Derby City Council has revealed that residents in Chester Green, who do not have access to off-street parking, will now be able to charge their electric vehicles (EV) at nine new chargers located in the Darley Playing Fields car park on Old Chester Road, a former Roman road.
Work to install the three BP Pulse operated 50kW dual rapid chargers, one 7kW dual fast charger and one single 7kW fast charger took place during the summer.
The dual chargers allow two EVs to be plugged in at the same time, allowing up to nine cars to be charged in the car park.
The area is the site of the former Roman settlement, Derventio, which dates back to AD69-70.
Due to the historical significance of the site, Historic England has been involved since the start of the project and an archaeologist was on site whilst the works took place.
Earlier this year, Midlands Connect – the region’s sub-national transport body – reported that Derby and Derbyshire will see a 440% increase in uptake in EVs by the end of 2030, with projections predicting an increase from around 12,000 EVs to more than 65,000 on our roads by the end of 2030.
The works are funded by the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund, the installation of these chargers is the latest in a series of schemes to increase Derby’s EV infrastructure within the city.
Cabinet member for climate change, transport and sustainability, Carmel Swan, said: “From January to March this year, 114,000 plug-in vehicles were registered for the first time in the UK, which shows us that more and more drivers are choosing to switch to plug-in vehicles.
“Most of the homes in Chester Green do not have access to off-street parking so the installation of these nine chargers will allow these residents to charge their EV close to home.
Schemes like these are key to us delivering an effective and sustainable transport network for Derby that is fit for a future that will continue to be dominated by climate change.
Achievements and innovations in EV charging infrastructure will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector – and to book your table!
