Our plans to make Plymouth greener are getting into gear with the installation of brand new EV (electric vehicle) charging points across the city.
Public charge points have been installed at the Elphinstone, Crownhill and Plymstock Broadway public car parks. The charge points are pay-as-you-go and are operated through a dedicated app that can be downloaded onto your smart phone.
Public car parks at Plympton Mudge Way, Guildhall, and North Hill are also on the list to have EV charge points installed.
Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure said: “This is about action not just words. If we want to encourage people to go green, we need to make it easier for them which is why are installing these charge points. It will give drivers greater confidence to use or own electric vehicles here in Plymouth.”
Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Street Scene added: “This council has committed to doing everything within its power to address climate change. Bit by bit we are helping people to change their habits, to think about being more sustainable and to work with us to pave the way to a carbon neutral future for our city.”
The roll out is one of a number of projects funded through the Council’s successful bid to the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.
It is also an essential part of the Council’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2030 which is set out in the Plymouth Climate Emergency Action Plan 2019.
Electric vehicles produce much lower local emissions, helping to improve the air quality in Plymouth. The passenger ferries that operate from the Barbican Landing Stage will soon also be changing to electric power which has been made possible by a charge point being installed on the landing stage.
This will help reduce pollution and maintain cleaner waters - essential for the work that is ongoing in Britain’s first National Marine Park.
The charge points are supplied by SWARCO and are primarily rated as 22kwh units, providing fast charge to many EV’s and Hybrids.
The SWARCO app to operate the charge points can be downloaded from both Apple and Android online stores.