Public electric vehicle chargers now live across Basingstoke and Deane
Drivers can now plug in and power up their electric vehicles at public charging points in every ward of the borough, thanks to another six chargers Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has installed since the start of the year.
These newest additions have brought the total number of public charging points put in by the council to 54. It also marks the achievement of the council’s target in its electric vehicle charging strategy, adopted in February, for at least one in each ward.
The move is part of the borough council’s work to reduce emissions and help residents get around in more sustainable ways, supporting its 2019 climate emergency declaration.
Licenses and Grants
It follows last week’s news that, from April, the borough council will license low-carbon private hire vehicles for free for two years, saving their owners up to £300 for each more environmentally friendly vehicle they choose to license.
Local taxi drivers can already get a £5,000 grant from the borough council towards an ultra-low emission, wheelchair accessible hackney carriage. Eight of these electrically powered vehicles will soon be regularly pulling up at Basingstoke train station’s taxi rank.
Residents can get help too to cut carbon and save money on fuel from the borough council’s Green Team, whose advisors offer people free support to plan more sustainable ways to travel so they can leave the car at home more often and go by foot, bike, bus or train instead.
Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Cllr Andy Konieczko said: “From electric vehicle chargers to low-carbon taxis and travel advice, we are and will continue to make it easier for residents and visitors to travel in cleaner, greener ways.
“Doing what we can to help people get around more sustainably, for example on foot and in zero-emission vehicles, is a vital part of our ongoing efforts to keep the borough’s air clean and protect its natural environment now and for the future.”
Future upgrades
The borough council plans to install further chargers in its car parks, on its land and near its buildings.
It is also continuing to push Hampshire County Council, as the authority responsible for local roads and footpaths, to install on-street charging points so residents who do not have access to off-road parking can more easily recharge their vehicles.
The complete list of electric vehicle chargers installed by the borough council is at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/vehicle-charging-point