South Tyneside embark on huge EV charge-point roll-out

In a move that will boost the North East’s charging network by 126%, South Tyneside Council are partnering with Connected Kerb to roll out 2,100 chargers,  80% of which will be operational within two years.

Currently, the North East is home to just 2.7% of the UK’s public charging infrastructure which equates to 58 chargers per 100,000 people. In London that figure is 193.

This is being described as the largest single roll out in the North and it is due to start this month with the first phase taking place over at least 41 sites, including community centres, sports facilities and libraries such as Monkton Stadium, The Word and The Customs House Mill Dam car park. As part of the rollout, 43 existing charge points will be upgraded, increasing reliability and network uptime for users.

The partnership will increase the number of council-operated chargers in South Tyneside by over 30 times and will improve the network’s uptime from a reported operational uptime of 56% to 99%.

Cllr Ernest Gibson, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change at South Tyneside Council said: ‘The entire country is undergoing a massive shift in ways in which we travel, and we are committed to ensuring that South Tyneside plays its part. With the first chargers expected to be in the ground by the end of March, we are committed to giving more residents the confidence they need to make the switch to electric, whilst supporting our sustainability agenda. Our partnership with Connected Kerb – enabling the largest rollout of EV chargers in the North East – provides a blueprint for other councils right across the UK to follow.’

Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb, said: ‘With millions of pounds available to local authorities from Government initiatives such as the LEVI Fund, councils are in the driving seat to take decisive, meaningful action to deploy charge points where their communities need them the most. Our partnership with South Tyneside Council is yet another example of bold ambition turned into action.’