17,000 New EV Chargers Coming To The UK

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When it was announced in February of this year that there would be 10,000 new public EV chargers installed in Kent, UK, this total number was so large it might have been astounding to some. Generally, public EV chargers are installed in far smaller groups: by a dozen or so, maybe a few dozen in rare cases. Now, there is news that a little over 17,000 will be installed in Hampshire, UK.

“As more people look to switch to EVs, ensuring access to reliable, convenient charging is essential – particularly for those without off-street parking. This initiative demonstrates how local authorities can combine local knowledge and national funding with private sector investment to unlock delivery at scale, accelerate infrastructure rollout, and support the growth of the UK’s green economy,” said Councillor Kirsty North, Hampshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Lead for Universal Services. 

Many of the new chargers will be for residences to provide overnight charging. There will also be about 800 rapid chargers installed. The first 500 chargers will be installed before the end of this year.

While some EV critics try to claim electric vehicles and public EV chargers should not receive government funding because electric vehicles should only be supported by the “free market,” these new EV chargers will be funded by the private sector and government. (It’s not like the oil and gas industry isn’t heavily supported by government as well.)

“This partnership with Hampshire County Council enables the largest EV charging programme delivered through the LEVI scheme to date. By combining public funding with significant private capital, we can move faster, reach more communities and make charging more accessible for residents all across Hampshire,” said Believ CEO Guy Bartlett. 

Believ is a UK EV charging point operator that utilizes renewables. “Our network is powered by 100% renewable energy because we believe infrastructure should actively support a low-carbon future.”

Electric vehicles can be charged with 100 percent, clean, renewable electricity. Gas and diesel vehicles can only use dirty fossil fuels. A tiny number of diesel vehicles run on biodiesel made from used vegetable oil, but there are greenhouse gas emissions in their exhaust, so this option is also dirty. Additionally, this option is not available to everyone, but most people do use electricity.

If policymakers have the interest and inclination, they can create policies to support the transition to sustainable transportation. Public EV chargers can be installed faster than many people may expect. Installing public EV chargers also means jobs for local people who install them, and they will not be exposed to gasoline or diesel fuel while doing their jobs, as they would if they were working at gas stations.