New chargepoints and free charging for World EV Day

Today is World EV Day and to mark the event, Portsmouth Council have announced they are going to triple the number of chargepoints in the city, while free EV charging is being offered around the country.

World EV Day was founded by sustainability media company Green.TV, in partnership with ABB, a global technology company,  to raise awareness and promote the shift to electric vehicles worldwide. The first World EV Day was held on September 9, 2020

Portsmouth have today announced plans to more than triple the number of on-street chargepoints over the next three years.

The council has secured funding for up to 320 new lamp post chargers, with the first set expected to be installed by the end of the year.

They have also secured £3.682 million in LEVI funding to help expand the network of on-street and public charging points in car parks across the city.

Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport (pictured), said: ‘This World EV Day, we are pleased to announce a step towards a greener future with plans to triple the amount of on-street chargepoints for residents, and expand the number of rapid chargers available for taxis and private hire vehicles in Portsmouth. We’re committed to making sustainable travel accessible for all, from electric vehicles to buses, rental e-bikes and e-scooters, creating a cleaner, healthier city for everyone.’

Drivers will be able to enjoy free EV charging on the RAW Charging network until midnight, at places such as Alton Towers Resort, a host of National Trust sites, McArthurGlen retail outlets in York, Bridgend, and the East Midlands, and at Greene King pubs where there a more than 500 chargepoints.

Jason Simpson, CEO, RAW Charging, said: ‘For a third year in a row, we’re delighted to celebrate World EV Day by giving back to the EV drivers of the UK and thanking our hosts for their ongoing commitment to sustainability and reducing emissions. Our partnerships with businesses in the leisure, hospitality and retail sectors show the importance of destination charging and we’d like to thank our customers at these Amazing Places by offering free charging on 9 September 2024. We look forward to continuing our rollout of destination charging across the UK and Europe to help aide the transition to EVs.

In Abingdon. Compleo Charging Solutions UK, a manufacturer of EVcharge points, is offering free EV charging at their UK headquarters.

Clare Nicol, Head of Marketing at Compleo UK said: ‘We are excited to participate in World EV Day by providing free charging to the EV community. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with EV drivers, showcase our cutting-edge charging solutions, and give a little something back to EV drivers.

From 9am to 5pm today,  all EV drivers are invited to visit the Compleo HQ to take advantage of the free charging, through seven AC chargers, capable of charging an EV at 22kW. The company will also be offering a sneak peek at their new 200kW charger which is undergoing pre-commissioning & final checks.

In addition to offering free charging, Compleo will also have experts on-site to answer any questions about EV charging technology, provide demonstrations of their latest products, and discuss the future of emobility.