Electric car drivers backed by 'largest EV charging programme' with plans for 17,000 new chargers

A major new partnership will see more than 17,000 public electric car chargers in Hampshire as part of a massive rollout of infrastructure for drivers.

Hampshire County Council has joined forces with chargepoint operator Believ to deliver the largest Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) contract signed to date.

The partnership will see 17,180 public EV chargers rolled out across Hampshire over the coming years as part of a £90million investment from Believ.

Funding will see mostly standard plus chargers installed with 22kW sockets supporting residential and overnight charging needs.

These chargers are popular amongst drivers who do not have access to private driveways, with chargers available for drivers within a five-minute walk of their houses.

Believ will also oversee the installation of more than 800 rapid chargers (higher than 50kW) to serve shorter stops across Hampshire.

Data suggests that one-third of people around the UK do not have access to off-street parking, prompting the need for greater community charging access.

The research, from the RAC, found that the number of people without street charging rises to 38 per cent in Winchester and Rushmoor and 39 per cent in Basingstoke.

Hampshire County Council will use £6.6million of LEVI funding from central Government, while Believ will invest up to £90million to support the rollout.

Councillor Kirsty North, Hampshire County Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Lead for Universal Services, emphasised that convenient charging was "essential" for motorists to have confidence in EVs.

She said: "This initiative demonstrates how local authorities can combine local knowledge and national funding with private sector investment to unlock delivery at scale, accelerate infrastructure rollout, and support the growth of the UK’s green economy."

The Conservative Councillor for Andover North noted that the switch to zero emission vehicles can be achieved, even when local government budgets are under pressure.

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Installations of the 17,000 chargers are expected to begin later this year, with around 500 chargers planned to be delivered in the first year of the partnership.

Believ will be responsible for the design, installation, operation and long‑term maintenance of the charging network.

It has ensured that all of its chargers are PAS 1899-compliant, which puts accessibility at the forefront for motorists with additional needs and support.

Guy Bartlett, CEO of Believ, said: "This partnership with Hampshire County Council enables the largest EV charging programme delivered through the LEVI scheme to date.

"By combining public funding with significant private capital, we can move faster, reach more communities and make charging more accessible for residents all across Hampshire."

Keir Mather, Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, also praised the partnership and the planned boost to chargers in Hampshire.

The Labour MP noted that the Government had previously announced around £600million to accelerate the rollout of charger access across the UK, in addition to 110,000 drivers making use of the Electric Car Grant.

Data from Zapmap shows that there are 121,262 publicly accessible electric vehicle chargers across more than 46,000 locations around the country.