EV charging network provider Engenie has announced the installation of its first two rapid charge points in Cardiff.
The first site to be installed is located at Howard Place, with a further two sites to follow at Windsor Place and King Edward VII Avenue in Spring this year.
The final two sites will follow at strategic locations across the city centre.
Once complete by mid-2020, there will be 12 chargers across six sites, doubling the number of rapid chargers in the city.
The chargers require no membership or connection fee and operate with normal contactless payment.
Michael Micheal, cabinet member for clean streets, recycling and environment, Cardiff Council, said: “By partnering with a progressive company like Engenie, which installs, manages and maintains the rapid chargers, we’re able to deliver essential EV infrastructure at no cost to the council.
“This influx of private investment into the city means we can continue to drive investment back into vital public services.”
Engenie said it is covering all costs associated with installing and servicing the rapid charging points.
It will also share profits with the council, enabling the city to hit climate targets, generate revenue and support its sustainable growth plan.
Developing electric car infrastructure is one focus of Cardiff Council’s recent Green Paper on transport and clean air, published in October 2019. ‘Changing how we move around a growing city’ proposes a range of changes to improve and shape the future direction of the city.
In turn, Cardiff Council’s Clean Air Strategy will adopt smart city approaches, starting with new technology, such as Engenie’s chargers, and predictive software to support intelligent infrastructure management networks across the city to tackle air pollution.
By modelling major road links in the city centre, the council can also predict when and where legal air quality limits will be breached if business, as usual, is continued.
Engenie said the partnership with Cardiff Council will contribute to keeping these areas within recommended limits.
According to Public Health Wales, the equivalent of over 225 deaths each year – or 5% of all deaths – can be attributed to particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the Cardiff and Vale Health Board area, with thousands more reportedly suffering from long-term illnesses.
What’s more, Engenie said that over 90,000 commuters travel in and out of Cardiff each day, and spend an average of four working days a year stuck in traffic during peak periods.
As such, he company believes that the introduction of an EV network to Cardiff could have a significant impact on air pollution and remove up to two tonnes of harmful NO2 from the city centre.
In July 2019, Cardiff Council outlined its £1bn transport vision, which is introducing measures to improve transport in the city including decarbonising its bus fleet, developing active travel zones and increasing cycle networks.
Want to learn more about EV charging technology? CiTTi Exhibition takes place on the 3rd and 4th of June at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. Register your interest to attend at www.cittiexhibition.co.uk
