Coventry is accelerating its ambitious green vision to become a clean air city by securing over 12m in funding to create more than 2,100 on-street electric vehicle charging spaces.
This initiative demonstrates the Council’s commitment to make Coventry a greener, healthier city to live and work and to make it easier for local people who don’t have driveways to own and charge electric cars. Around 46% of Coventry households do not have access to private parking, so having on-street charge points for them to use is critical in supporting the transition to electric cars.
In March a further £400,000 of grant was secured to install 76 new charging points across Radford, Upper Stoke, St Michael’s, Bablake, Longford, Sherbourne, and Foleshill by the end of March 2025 - that is a further 144 on-street charging spaces. This will mean that Coventry will have 2307 spaces by March 2025.
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: “We are delighted to have secured yet more funding to improve charging infrastructure in areas where people don’t have a driveway as we know this is a real barrier to electric car ownership. Although we already have one of the best charging point networks in the UK, we know more are needed.
“There will be bay markings and sensors installed in each space which will mean we can monitor usage and identify when electric car ownership increases while allowing petrol cars to park there until demand increases.
“Together, our plans for Coventry Very Light Rail, our first class segregated cycleways and the fact that we will have an all electric bus fleet show how we are leading the green revolution in travel. Being able to own an electric vehicle wherever you live is really important so this new money is a real boost - giving all residents the option to charge an electric vehicle as near to their homes or places of work as possible.”
Coventry has more electric charging points than anywhere outside London and the new charging points will be powered by a near by lamp post or by connecting to an independent power supply.
Public transport and taxis are also moving towards the cleaner transport with more than 26 electric taxis already in use in the city and at present, 140 National Express’s electric double decker buses operating in Coventry. This marks a move towards an all-electric fleet by the end of 2025. A first for the whole country.