A huge £6.6million boost will mean more electric charging points across the Tees Valley being installed in the near future.
The Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority have successfully won a bid for just shy of £6.6million from the Department of Transport and its Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund.
The Government’s key aim with the funding is to deliver a significant increase in the availability of low powered, on-street electric vehicle charging which is designed to support residents without drives or garages.
This will mean more on-street chargers across the region, with charging speeds similar to those achieved by residents who have charge points installed on their homes – with locations set to be agreed with local authorities. These spots will be honed down once the charge point operator is procured but there will be a focus on chargers in locations without off-street parking.
The cash boost is set to see the number of electric chargers in the region run into the thousands.
It comes after previous rounds helped fund and install more than 130 extra chargers in late 2022 and early 2023 as part of a £2million scheme.
All 136 of these devices are installed and operational – with an underspend meaning officials are now working with local authorities on chargers in more sites.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Electric and hybrid vehicles are no longer the future – they’re with us now. Ensuring owners and drivers have access to the chargers they need is crucial if we want to cut our emissions and hit our Net Zero targets.
“We’re the UK’s capital of Net Zero with Net Zero Teesside on its way bringing thousands of jobs through carbon capture, and our vision to unleash our hydrogen potential.
“We have to ensure our wider transport network is part of this and this cash boost will bring thousands more working chargers to the people of Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.”
The region’s Net Zero Strategy includes the aim to increase the number of public Electric Vehicle charging points in the Tees Valley by 200% by 2025 as part of a wider plan to deliver a Net Zero local transport network by 2036.
Technology and Decarbonisation Minister Anthony Browne said: “This Government has a plan to help speed up the installation of EV chargepoints, which we’re getting on and delivering.
“This dedicated funding to local councils is part of our plan to ensure people can switch from a petrol or diesel car to an EV when they choose to do so.”
