Char.gy, a UK-based provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, has announced that the installation phase of its contract with the London Borough of Merton has begun.
The first half of 530 new EV chargepoints have now been installed, with the remainder expected to be operational within the following four to six weeks.
This means three times the number of public chargepoints are now available to Merton residents, increasing from 259 at the start of January 2023 to 789.
So far, the installations have included six accessible lamppost chargers for disabled motorists. These have been established close to disabled parking bays and placed at an appropriate height for wheelchair users.
Richard Stobart, founder of Char.gy, said: “We believe our no-cost, quick installation and shared revenues for councils, together with our reliable, renewables-based charging service for motorists, makes us the ideal partner for local authorities looking to make a paradigm shift in neighbourhood electrification.
“This project shows how councils across the country can scale up their public charging quickly and get the best possible coverage with the extra funds the government has recently committed to supporting public charging in residential areas.”
Char.gy plans to introduce public chargepoints within a two-minute walk of 78,000 Merton homes, with locations being selected based on factors including the number of local motorists switching to EVs, network planning expertise, geographical spread and consultation with residents.
What’s more, the charging infrastructure provider will be covering all maintenance costs and offer the council a revenue stream through its charging services. The installation costs have been funded so far through a combination of private investment from Char.gy and government grant funding through the On-street Residential Charging Scheme (ORCS).
Cllr Stephen Alambritis, Merton Council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “At Merton Council, we are committed to making it easy and accessible for people across the borough to access EV charging near their homes and where they work. This installation is a significant step towards providing the on-street access to EV charging points needed in Merton.
“We are especially pleased that by using the lamppost chargers, we have been able to make EV charging more accessible for residents with a disability. Our ambition is to make Merton one of the best places in London to rent, own, or share an electric vehicle – this is crucial to our efforts to reduce emissions in the borough and clean up the air we all breathe.”
The new partnership is intended to improve local air quality and encourage more local motorists to switch to EVs by making it a more practical option – especially for those who cannot avail of off-street parking.
