Horsham Council’s EV awareness event proves a success

Last Friday, Horsham District Council hosted a free to attend electric vehicle event, for residents and businesses of the area, at their Parkside premises.

The event was attended by hundreds of people keen to learn more about how zero emission transport could both benefit them and help address climate change challenges.

Among their number was rugby league legend Martin ‘Chariots’ Offiah MBE (above), brand Ambassador for Connected Kerb, who talked about he has found making the switch to and electric vehicle.

Connected Kerb are one of the UK’s largest EV charge network, and are responsible for the roll out of charge points throughout West Sussex. A representative of the company discussed the sort of charging solutions which are accessible to all types of user.

Visitors were invited to take a test drive in an electric vehicle and there was quite some range to choose from, with marques in attendance including Tesla, BMW, Volkswagen, Mini, Renault, Lexus, Ford and the London Electric Vehicle Company with their all-electric black cab fleet including wheelchair access vehicles.

Technical experts from Energy Savings Trust shared information on the grants and funding available to help people make the switch, where charge points could be fitted, and how to install them.

Horsham District Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Nature Recovery Cllr Colette Blackburn chaired presentations and a question and answer session, commenting afterwards: ‘Cllr Blackburn commented: ‘I am delighted that this event was such a success and so well attended by a such a wide range of people with differing motoring needs from across the region.

‘Sustainable transport is such a key element in our drive forward with our green agenda to achieve carbon neutrality for Horsham District by 2050 but we cannot achieve this as a Council alone, and very much need to gain buy-in from all our local residents and businesses to reach this target.

‘The Discover Electric event provided an excellent platform to inform and educate people about cleaner, greener transport options and many aspects of how to switch to sustainable driving.’

The Council worked in partnership with leading UK charging infrastructure company Connected Kerb, event organisers Let’s Experience Electric, energy efficiency specialists Energy Saving Trust, West Sussex County Council and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The event was funded by DEFRA’s Air Quality Grant.