Wandsworth to install 700 EV charging points

Wandsworth council has agreed plans to install more than 700 electric vehicle charging points on lampposts throughout the borough.

The move will boost air quality and turn Wandsworth into a borough where electric cars are the ‘norm, not the exception’, the council has claimed.

Electric vehicle charging points near Battersea Park

Members of the council’s community services scrutiny committee on Tuesday also voted through plans for an eco-friendly electric car club to operate in the borough.

The number of electric vehicles registered in Wandsworth has grown from 127 at the end of 2015 to over 400 — and has been rising by as much as 10% every three months, the council claims.

The plans will see at least 350 electric vehicle charging lampposts on borough streets which will be offered on request to residents who have already bought or are about to purchase a new electric car.

ULEZ

In addition charging plugs will be installed in every suitable lampposts within two pilot zones — around 150 in parts of Thamesfield ward close to busy Putney High Street,  and around 240 in a large area of Shaftesbury ward in Battersea immediately adjacent to the proposed extension of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

Introducing lamppost charging points will have no impact on parking provision in the borough, the council claims, adding that there will be no restrictions on the types of vehicle allowed to use adjacent parking spaces, so they can be used by both electric and non-electric vehicles.

The council’s transport and environment spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said: “I’m pleased colleagues agreed these plans last night. Our aim is to improve air quality and help shift our residents’ preferred mode of transport to environmentally-friendly options.

“We know that we need to play our part by removing barriers to choosing cleaner travel. That’s why we want people buying an electric vehicle to be able to charge it, and those wanting to hire a car to be able to chose electric.

“We will continue to work to improve air quality by this and other measures, including lobbying for cleaner buses, encouraging cycling by implementing our cycling strategy, working with the construction industry and putting in measures to improve traffic flow on our busy streets.

“We have recently seen great improvements in air quality in Putney and Nine Elms so we’re confident we’re on the right track. Last night’s decision is another step in the right direction.”