Kent drivers to benefit from new pilot to increase EV charge points

Electric vehicle charging

Drivers will benefit from more electric vehicle charging points as Kent County Council (KCC) was announced as one of nine local authorities to be enrolled in a government pilot.

The Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) pilot scheme will see KCC receive a share of £10 million of government funding shared among the successful local authorities, which is part of a wider £450 million scheme.

In Kent the cash is expected to deliver 26 public charge points across four different locations.

It means residents, who do not have access to off-street parking at home, will have better access to EV chargers.

Kent County Council member David Brazier

The Local EV Infrastructure pilot will enable us to continue our work to increase the number of electric vehicle charge points in the county.

David Brazier KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

KCC’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, David Brazier said:

"The Local EV Infrastructure pilot will enable us to continue our work to increase the number of electric vehicle charge points in the county. It will also allow us to test out new technologies to bring forward charge points in areas constrained by electricity supply."

"Our ambition to reach Net Zero carbon emissions for the county of Kent by 2050 means we need to support a shift to more sustainable ways of getting about. I am delighted we have been able to secure our part in this Government-backed pilot and can grow the chargepoint network for Kent residents."

It is not the first action KCC has taken to develop electric vehicle charging technology, as it continues to roll out its own EV600 programme aiming to install 600 new charging points for electric vehicles over two years in five Kent districts, as well as Medway.

ENDS.

Note for editors

Further information on the Government pilot is available on the GOV.UK website.