First EV chargers in Hinckley council car parks

Electric vehicle charging points will be available in two council car parks in Hinckley soon.

The Borough Council is about to start work to install 24 electric vehicle charging points in two public car parks in Hinckley following confirmation of grant funding from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). 

The points will be installed in Lower Bond Street and Castle (Hill Street) car parks in the town centre. 

The total project cost is £98,000 with £70,000 funding secured from OLEV as part of the government’s commitment to increase the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in readiness for the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. The remaining cost has been met from developer contributions.

The project aims to help meet the expected rise in demand for electric vehicles from around 250,000 currently to six million on the road by 2030. It has been identified that most electric vehicle users will charge their vehicles at home. However by installing these facilities in areas where many nearby properties do not have their own off-street parking, the council aims to provide charging points and make electric vehicles more accessible to both residents and visitors.

Hinckley’s requirement for EVCs was identified when applying for funding due to the large areas of residential housing with no off street parking, which was a key requirement of OLEV. There is also a need for workers, shoppers and visitors to the town centre. Initial surveys to deem the suitability of rural car parks in the borough are in hand in anticipation of further funding becoming available.

The EVCs will be supplied by Pod Point Ltd, whose mobile phone application identifies charging points across the country and also takes payment.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Stuart Bray said:

The introduction of electric charging points in the borough was an election promise and I am delighted to launch this new initiative, which will see 24 electric vehicle charge points introduced to two main car parks in Hinckley. This is just the first step on the council’s path towards delivering our new ‘greener’ agenda.

We know demand will only increase for these charge points and we are looking to introduce more on council car parks across the borough where we know residents will find it difficult to charge at home, and when more funding becomes available.