Connected Kerb and Bicester-based EZ-Charge have been chosen to provide more than 1,500 public EV charging sockets in Oxfordshire, doubling the number currently available.
Over the next two years, Connected Kerb will install and operate on-street EV chargers on the highway, as well as Oxfordshire County Council-run park and ride sites and other car parks.
Also, EZ-Charge will install and operate EV charging hubs in district and city council car parks across the county.
Public EV charger deployment will be prioritised in areas where a high proportion of residents lack off-street parking.
Funding comes from a combination of Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) and other grant funds from the government, as well as significant private investment from the two charge point operators.
Oxfordshire County Council is also set to launch a community microhub scheme by inviting town and parish councils and other non-profit-making community organisations to host public EV charging points in car parks at community hubs such as village halls, community centres and sports pavilions.
A total of six pilot sites have been chosen to have EV chargers installed later this year ahead of the scheme opening for formal applications.
Councillor Gareth Epps, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said, “This programme will provide a huge confidence boost to drivers looking to switch to EVs and build on our leadership in this field.
“One of our top aims is to get reliable, accessible public EV charging into rural and deprived areas. This will help ensure that nobody will be left behind in the transition to driving electric.”
