Transport chiefs in the West Midlands have received £15.7 million in fresh funding to support their ambition of installing up to 12,000 electric vehicle charging points over the next five years.
The capital, from the Department for Transport’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund, will be part of a wider package made available to local councils, businesses and residents to part-fund installations.
Added to funding already set aside by Transport for West Midlands, this means a total of £55 million is now available.
This will be used to leverage private sector investment to accelerate the roll out of charging infrastructure in the region.
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Transport for West Midlands said it was now working with councils, private sector suppliers and utility firms to design the programme to deliver a wide range of infrastructure from a set of nine larger ultra rapid-charging transit stations to thousands of smaller roadside low-power chargers.
As well as funding to local authorities, the Department for Transport has announced additional funding for homeowners or renters who do not have off-street parking to help install on-street charging points.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “We recognise there are many people and businesses who would like to make the switch to an electric vehicle but are worried about the lack of chargers, especially those who do not have their own driveway or garage.
Read More Related Articles Up to 500 new EV charging points to be installed across Solihull Read More Related Articles easyJet launches new base with three planes at Birmingham Airport“That is why we welcome this new investment from the Department for Transport which will help us deliver a revolution in vehicle charging infrastructure, from smaller roadside chargers to faster charging hubs across our region.
“This will be added to funding we already have in place and private sector investment and, working with our member councils, will enable us to install up to 12,000 electric vehicle chargers across our region, targeting those areas which need them most.
“This is a crucial part of our plans to deliver a green transport revolution and help reduce pollution and tackle the climate emergency.”
