Wolverhampton to expand EV charging network

City of Wolverhampton council has outlined plans to expand its electric vehicle charging network, including making taxi-charge points accessible to the public.

City of Wolverhampton council was handed £478,000 government funding in March to work towards a long term plan to grow the number of electric taxis in the city.

Wolverhampton council is to install 24 charging points by 2020

The Office for Low Emission Vehicles’ (OLEV) has since confirmed the electric charging network can also be made available for public use.

The funding also means work can start in the city on building the infrastructure to facilitate electric vehicles. This will include an initial 24 charging points which will be installed over the next three years, with the aid of match funding from a private sector partner.

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A report going to the council’s Cabinet tomorrow (13 September) recommends management of the project is put in the hands of a specialist private partner, who would be responsible for building, operating and marketing the network as well as providing 24/7 service, maintenance and repair.

The council’s cabinet member for city environment, Councillor Steve Evans, said: “We are working closely with the taxi drivers in the city on this project and we are delighted OLEV has allowed us to broaden the scheme out for public use.

“Electric vehicles bring many benefits. They improve air quality and public health, make the city more attractive, support the economy of the Midlands, and support innovation and transformation, as well as help reduce carbon emissions.

“The idea of bringing on board a private sector partner also means we don’t anticipate any need to use council funds.”