Suffolk launches UK's most accessible EV charging network with £21m investment
The installations were made via EV charge point operator (CPO) Believ which has installed the chargers as part of a programme designed to accelerate the county's transition to sustainable transport.
Plug in Suffolk, launched in 2018, aims to ensure that every resident in the council is within a 5-10-minute walk or wheel of a charge point.
As part of this wider programme, Believ is also installing air quality sensors, supporting Suffolk County Council in its ambitions to improve local air quality and reduce transport-related emissions.
The project uses £5.3m government funding through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme. This funding is administered through the Department for Transport (DfT), to support the project alongside a £16m investment from Believ. The CPO will take responsibility for the charge point delivery, operation and ongoing maintenance.
Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for devolution, local government reorganisation and NSIPs, Richard Rout, said: "The installation of the first charge point in the Suffolk and Believ partnership is a significant milestone for the Plug in Suffolk project.
By working with Believ, we're able to rapidly expand public charging infrastructure, helping more people who wish to do so make the switch to electric.
We're doing this in a measured way, ensuring no on-street parking is lost and not imposing any restrictions - meaning, whatever car they drive, residents can continue to park outside their homes."
