English city triples EV charging capacity with major rollout

Drivers in Portsmouth now have 98 charge points to refuel their electric vehicles, with specific sites catering to those who drive for a living. 

62 new on-street EV charging sites have been added to Portsmouth’s pre-existing network of 36 in a £200,000 investment  the council hopes will encourage local residents to move away from petrol and diesel vehicles. 

A rapid charger for taxis and private hire drivers has also been introduced at Stubbington Avenue, with overall plans to establish nine of these in the area. Sites including Park & Ride, D-Day Museum at Southsea, Cosham, and the city centre have all been identified as new locations for high-speed systems, allowing professional drivers to quickly and efficiently recharge their vehicles before getting back on the road to work.

‘We’ve seen plenty of interest in electric vehicles locally, from both residents and the taxi and private hire trade. We hope that the ability to charge outside your own home as a domestic user, or rapidly as part of your day as a trade user, will be a great incentive to join the revolution and reduce emissions further,’ said Cllr Lynne Stagg, Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation. ‘Whilst we understand they are not the complete solution for removing harmful emissions, they do produce much lower levels of pollution and have a place in making our air cleaner.’

‘We took a leap of faith buying an electric vehicle, but I wouldn’t go back. We’ve become a one car family with my wife and I sharing the car. When I don’t drive to work I cycle instead. I’ve also taken the car on longer journeys across the country and it’s been easy to use and charge on the go,’ said Martin Hoy, an EV owner and charge point user in Portsmouth. 

In related news, the Ukraine crisis could threaten electric vehicles targets in Europe due to an increase in the price of nickel, a key element in EV batteries. 

Image credit: Portsmouth City Council