County to get 550 new electric vehicle chargers

More than 550 new electric vehicle charging points will be installed to double the number made publicly-available by Shropshire Council.

They are being paid for with the help of a £2m government grant, plus "significant" private sector investment.

The locations for the charging points have yet to be agreed, but they will be on-street, as well as in council car parks and on third-party land.

The council said it would receive "a modest but growing income stream" from the revenue generated by the operators.

A report is due to go before the council's cabinet next Wednesday and councillors will be told the chargers will be financially self-sustaining.

"Income will be modest initially, but is expected to increase as the network expands," the report said.

The authority already has about 540 public charging points, largely in urban areas.

Some of the money will be spent on installing charging points in the street, to help people who are unable to have charging points in their driveways.

The council said the move would help it achieve its aim of cutting emissions.

Deputy council leader Alex Wagner said: "Electric vehicles are becoming more common on our roads, but the charging infrastructure hasn't always kept pace, especially in more rural counties like Shropshire."

He said the aim was to help making the switch to electric vehicles "practical for everyone and giving people choice, including those who don't have off-street parking".

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