RBWM :: Charging points New electric vehicle charging points will support Royal Borough’s climate change and sustainable travel ambitions
Almost 30 new electric vehicle charging points are being installed in Maidenhead and Windsor, increasing charging capability and helping reduce the need for carbon intensive travel.
The council is working with charging infrastructure firm Connected Kerb on the pilot project, with the installation taking place across six sites, which are on-street parking bays, across the borough: St Leonards Road, Frances Road and Albert Street in Windsor and College Road, Cromwell Road and Lower Boyndon Road in Maidenhead.
Work is expected to be completed on the 29 fast charging points soon. Once the installation is complete, the bays will continue to operate as normal and will be available to all users, not just those with electric vehicles.
Councillor Gerry Clark, cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said: “A goal within our Corporate Plan and Environment and Climate Strategy is taking action to tackle climate change and its consequences by investing in zero emission vehicle infrastructure. This supports the transition away from traditional petrol and diesel cars to help reduce the need for carbon intensive travel and minimise the impact of air pollution.
“By increasing our charging capability, residents and visitors with electric vehicles will be able to travel around the borough with more confidence.
“This pilot project will inform our broader strategy in development to roll out EV charging points across the borough, helping our transition to a lower carbon future. We want to learn from these sites to develop our plan for wider scale roll out based on usage data and feedback from residents.
“While deciding to switch to an electric vehicle is a choice for individuals and families, making the infrastructure more widely available can only help hasten and support this transition.”
The project is majority funded by the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV) based on a bid that was submitted by the council.
Sites were selected based upon the OZEV criteria for funding, such as locations with no or limited access to off-street parking or charging, and sites which had appropriate electrical supply and which wouldn’t need significant upgrades.
The points will be installed at the edge of the footway, similar to how many on-street EV charging points have been installed in locations across the country. Sufficient space will be left for pedestrians to use the pavement unobstructed, including visually or mobility impaired pedestrians and those with buggies, to ensure they can pass safely.