Connected Kerb to install 1,000 chargers in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire County Council is moving forward with plans to install 1,000 on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging points over the next three years.

The council has recently appointed Connected Kerb, one of the UK’s leading charging point providers, to install and run a network of chargers.

With the government due to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030, the county council plans to roll out its network well ahead of this date in order to give residents the practical option of choosing to go electric as early as possible.

The programme aims to prioritise access to charging points for the third of residents who do not have off-street parking and charging, with the aim of taking Gloucestershire one step closer to decarbonising transport.

The council has begun working with district and parish councils to identify suitable locations and is bidding for government funding to accelerate this work and benefit smaller communities. Residents are being asked to give their views on where they think charging points should be located – and can register their interest here – in order to help map demand and plan for electric vehicle charging. The survey will stay open for the duration of the three-year project.

Connected Kerb’s chargers are made from recycled materials, use renewable energy and will be accessible to people with disabilities. They have also committed to recruiting local workers and apprentices. The network, which currently operates over 500 devices, is scheduled to go live on Zap-Pay this summer.

“We are delighted to be delivering the largest single installation of EV charging points in the south-west for Gloucestershire County Council,” said Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb.

“I have no doubt that the roll-out of Connected Kerb’s long-lasting, sustainable charging infrastructure will make a major contribution to the county’s efforts to improve air quality and make EV charging affordable and accessible for residents without driveways ahead of 2030.”

Around one third of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Gloucestershire come from transport and private vehicle use accounts for over half of this (55 per cent). However, switching from fossil fuel to electric vehicles has the potential to reduce these figures significantly, so electric vehicles are a key element in the council’s strategy for reducing emissions and tackling the climate emergency.