Connected Kerb is to install 190,000 public on-street EV chargers, worth up to £1.9bn, by 2030 – “levelling up” EV charging across the UK.

One of the most ambitious roll-outs of public EV charging ever seen in the UK, the infrastructure will support the tens of millions of drivers without off-street parking

The business has already secured new local authority partnerships in 2021 for 10,000 on-street chargers, and contracts for 30,000 more are already in the pipeline to be concluded by next year.

The investment will provide EV charging for the tens of millions of drivers without off-street parking, helping to create an equal EV society.

Dr Chris Pateman-Jones, chief executive officer of Connected Kerb, said: “Knowing you can arrive at virtually any location, at any time, in any vehicle and cheaply charge your battery without inconvenience or faff is the reality we have to deliver to create an EV society. Our rollout of public chargers – one of the most ambitious the UK has ever seen – encapsulates that future, helping individuals and businesses to confidently make the switch to electric, reducing their carbon footprint and cutting air pollution.

“Targets are important – for an industry so critical to the decarbonisation of transport, we need goals to work towards and objectives to which we are all accountable. However, they need to be met with action. With deals confirmed for 10,000 chargers this year alone and 30,000 more expected next year, we are demonstrating that we’re getting on with the job and delivering the change that needs to happen – not just talking about it.”

Lord Gerry Grimstone, Minister for Investment at Department for International Trade and Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said the work will support the UK’s commitment to green growth and ambitious net zero targets.

“Investments like this will be vital to help reduce emissions and limit the rise in global temperatures whilst driving jobs, growth and levelling up across the country,” he added.

The “unprecedented roll-out” includes a new tender won with West Sussex for charge points to be installed on streets, in public sector car parks and at community facilities by 2030; it’s believed to be the largest-ever deployment by a UK local authority. Today’s announcement also includes thousands more chargers to be installed across Kent, Milton Keynes, Coventry and Cambridge.

Connected Kerb said its work provides a blueprint for local authorities across the UK to deliver affordable, reliable and accessible chargers in their thousands.

While the Government’s On-Street Residential Charging Scheme (ORCS) already sees OZEV cover 75% of the cost of installations, in many cases Connected Kerb provides the remaining 25%, providing a zero-cost installation opportunity for councils.

Founded in 2017, the ORCS scheme has funded the installation of 1,459 public charging devices as of 1 July 2021, with a further 3,200 charge points to be installed in the near future.

Transport Minister Trudy Harrison said: “Providing reliable and affordable on-street charging is vital as we work to decarbonise transport and level up across the country.

“It’s great to see Connected Kerb and local authorities working together as the Government commits £2.5bn towards electric vehicle grants and the development of EV infrastructure in our towns and cities.”