York rolls out EV charging point network

York joins such UK cities as Aberdeen and London in rolling out EV charging point network

A network of electric vehicle charging points has been installed in York in a bid to reduce vehicle emissions in the city, the first of its kind for the region.

In addition to the 12 charging points already located across the city, the six pay-as-you-go fast charging points have been installed by York city council at five locations across city centre car parks and Park & Ride sites.

One of the EV pay-as-you-go charging points installed in York city centre

The network is publically accessible with a simple payment system that can be operated by phone or text message, similar to the way in which drivers pay for parking in council owned car parks. The pay-as-you-go system costs users 50p per hour, with a 30p transaction fee.

In addition, each charging point allows two electric vehicles to top up their batteries at the same with power output of up to 22kW from a choice of type two or three pin charging sockets.

In the coming months, four further charging points will be installed in three more locations around the city, with rapid chargers to follow.

Councillor Dave Merrett, City of York council’s cabinet member of transport, planning and sustainability, said: “This is excellent news for York. We’ve been determined to improve air quality and the city’s carbon footprint and this is another important step forwards in achieving this.

“Using electric vehicles means a 50-60 per cent reduction in CO2 and zero fuel related emissions of air pollutants, with significantly lower running costs than diesel, which makes them an ideal substitute for businesses and organisations using York’s roads.”

London

York’s scheme follows a similar roll out in Aberdeen in September, and in London, where Siemens installed 12 EV charging points at London Underground stations in September. The size of the capital’s total charging network, run by Source London, now stands at around 1100 sites (see airqualitynews story).

However, in August Lib Dem London Assembly member Stephen Knight criticised the Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s support for EV charging points, suggesting as many as three quarters of those used were going unused (see airqualitynews story).