Bedford to get more electric car charging points
New charging points are being installed across the borough if you’re thinking of making the switch to an EV (electric vehicle).
Bedford Borough Council has teamed up with EV provider Connected Kerb to install the charging points in areas without off-street parking, starting with an initial installation of 260 sockets across Bedford, Kempston and many villages.
They are being funded from the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund.
Connected Kerb will install, maintain and manage the EV charging points network on behalf of the council’s highways engineering team.
Of course, you’ve just got to be able to afford an EV in the first place...
Here’s where some of the EV charging points are already:
BizSpace Bedford Heights, Brickhill Drive
Colmworth Golf Club, New Road, Colmworth
Clophill Road, Maulden
Bedford Swan Hotel, The Embankment, Bedford
Aldi, Ampthill Road, Flitwick
Waitrose, Goldington Road, Bedford
Wyboston Lakes, Great North Road, Wyboston
Woodland Manor Hotel, Green Lane, Clapham
Legal & General, Interchange Retail Park
The Department for Transport’s (DfT) Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has provided councils nationally with LEVI funding – and Bedford council is using the cash to increase its network with an additional 900-plus sockets.
Residents who live in areas earmarked for EV installation will be notified in advance by the council.
Cllr Nicola Gribble, portfolio holder for environment, said: “Making use of the LEVI funding is one of the ways we as a council are helping residents feel confident in making the switch to EVs. Our collaboration with Connected Kerb will ensure all our communities benefit, both urban and rural.
“Our officers have worked to get this project set up against a challenging background of changing legislation and technical requirements in order to get the funding for this activity, and the contract was finalised and confirmed in early July. We are one of the first tranche of councils in the country to have got this far, so this is a big win for Bedford borough.”
Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb, added: “The future of transport isn't arriving at some point down the road, it's already here.
“By expanding access to EV charging across the borough, we're helping more residents make the switch to electric with confidence. Bedford is showing real ambition in preparing for the next generation of transport.”