- Suffolk County Council’s ‘Plug In Suffolk’ project expands to 100 locations with a £7.3 million LEVI fund bid.
- Launched in 2019, ‘Plug In Suffolk’ was the UK’s first fully open charging network with 100 initial chargepoints.
- Connected Kerb will install and maintain new chargepoints, aiding Suffolk’s transition to sustainable transport and emobility.
Suffolk County Council leads by example with a £7.3 million LEVI injection to boost community and on-street charging
Local authorities across the UK are taking the reigns and propelling the nation’s charging infrastructure. With government support from the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, councils are rapidly electrifying.
The latest to take the initiative is Suffolk County Council
Suffolk is boosting its EV infrastructure by expanding its ‘Plug In Suffolk’ project. The council launched the project in 2019, making history as the UK’s first fully open charging network.
Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality, said:
“The county council has led the way bringing an EV charging network to Suffolk. In 2019, the Plug In Suffolk project provided the UK’s first fully-open EV charging network, with 100 chargepoints installed across 32 community sites across the county.
With this latest wave of investment, we’re doubling the amount of sites which will see a Plug In Suffolk installation, meaning nearly 100 locations across the county.
With over 1 million electric vehicles now on the UK’s roads, we know that the charging infrastructure must keep pace. That’s why we are continuing to invest, particularly in more rural areas which might typically be overlooked by private companies.”
The council has secured a £7.3 million LEVI bid to boost its charging capabilities. £1.4 million of this funding will equip over 60 new sites with fast-charging facilities. In keeping with Suffolk County Council’s rollout, these will all be located at community sites, to put the infrastructure where the people need it most. Moreover, 25 existing chargepoints will be upgraded. The remaining £5.9 million will be used to develop and expand the region’s on-street charging later this year.
Connected Kerb will handle the installation and maintenance of the new chargepoints.
Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb, added:
“We’re delighted to partner with Suffolk County Council on the innovative Plug in Suffolk project. As the number of electric vehicles increases, initiatives like this become crucial in supporting the transition to sustainable transport. We’re proud to play a part in this journey and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the environment and Suffolk’s residents.”
The LEVI fund had been essential to the UK’s infrastructure rollout. Suffolk’s successful bid is a shining example of its power to propel the nation. The council continues its commitment to clean transport, and leads by example with its comprehensive emobility strategy.
