New EV charging network across Greater Manchester

Infrastructure support service provider Amey has been appointed by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to expand the number of publically owned electric vehicle (EV) charging networks across the city. 

This partnership is part of the city region’s 2040 Transport Strategy which aims to make Greater Manchester EV friendly to support air quality and carbon reduction targets. 

For the past six years, EV owners have benefitted from free electric charging in what was supposed to be an introductory offer. The new charging network, when installed will move to a ‘pay-as-you-charge’ system in order to cover the costs needed and to balance the impact on public budgets. 

The charge points will be powered with 100% renewable energy and will span all 10 councils in Greater Manchester, serving 2.8 million people.

John Faulkner, group strategy and development director of Amey, said: ‘Amey is keen to work with TfGM to roll out green infrastructure across the region.

‘Our aim is to enable Greater Manchester to develop into one of the largest and greenest regional economies in Europe. We have put together a consortium with transport technology provider SWARCO and renewable electricity supplier Octopus Energy that delivers technical expertise and a sustainable model for TfGM.

‘Innovation and sustainability are at the core of our service as well as a tangible social value investment. We want to work in collaboration with local businesses, particularly SMEs and social enterprises.’

Simon Warburton, TfGM transport strategy director, added: ‘The modernisation and expansion of Greater Manchester’s publicly owned EV charging network is another step in realising our vision for clean, green, sustainable transport across our region.

‘It will support Greater Manchester’s vision to ‘build back better’ as we work to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and is an important step in helping to make our city-region one of the best places in the world in which to live and work.’

Photo Credit – Pixabay