The majority will be bollard-style units at the kerbside, suitable for long-stay or overnight charging. Drivers will be able to benefit from an overnight off-peak tariff, and a dedicated resident’s tariff which features discounted charging at all times.
Public car parks will also see a number of rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoint installations, allowing for quicker charging.
The county council has made this project possible with a successful £5.3 million bid to the government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund. This roll-out will use a proportion of this funding with a further £16 million of funding provided by operator, Believ.
Councillor Philip Fairclough-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality said:
“25% of Suffolk households don’t have a driveway, and park on their street. This is a significant barrier for people who would like an EV, as they have no convenient way to charge.
“We are providing a solution by installing chargepoints on their street, or very nearby. Our ambition is to provide them with a public chargepoint within a 5-10 minute walk or wheel.
“There are around 1.5 million EVs on the country’s roads and we need thousands of new public chargepoints in Suffolk, and we need them quickly - around 5,400 by 2030, and 12,000 by 2040. Working with Believ, our new installations will bring a significant reduction to those numbers.
“The benefits of EV ownership go beyond helping residents and businesses to reduce their carbon emissions and their impact on climate change. It means together we can contribute to Suffolk’s Climate Emergency Plan, improving Suffolk’s air quality and enabling us to live healthier lives.”
Suffolk County Council is the first local authority in England to both award their LEVI main funding tender, and subsequently sign a contract with an operator, meaning the installation of chargers can begin at pace.
Following a competitive procurement exercise, Believ will install, operate and maintain the chargepoints, which deliver 100% renewable energy.
They will also support the installation of rapid charging infrastructure at key community locations, building on the county council’s successful ‘Plug In Suffolk’ project which launched in 2018.
Guy Bartlett, Believ CEO, said:
“We’re delighted to have been awarded the opportunity to rollout such a significant number of chargepoints across Suffolk.
“It will make a real difference to local EV drivers and give others the confidence to go electric, helping to support our mission to deliver cleaner air for all. Through this project we forecast the removal of nearly 140,000 tons of emissions by the end of the initial phase in late 2026*.
“As one of the UK’s best-backed privately funded chargepoint operators investing over £16m in the Suffolk area, Believ is well placed to support Suffolk deliver its zero carbon transport ambitions.”
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said:
“Making charging as easy as possible is a crucial ingredient to make the switch to electric a success. Rolling out over 6,000 charging sockets across Suffolk will make driving an EV easier and more convenient, especially for those without a driveway.
“The switch to electric will power growth, cut emissions and improve lives in Suffolk and beyond, as we continue to support jobs, attract investment and secure our future as part of our Plan for Change.”
In advance of all on-street chargepoint installations, local residents will receive letters with details of the work due to take place, including details on timescales.
