The Cabinet at their meeting on 6 March approved funding for a feasibility study in partnership with Warwick District Council to help inform the future infrastructure for Electric Vehicle charging. The cost of the study which is expected to be around £40,000 will be shared equally between the two councils.
The study builds on the report considered last year which identified the number of charging facilities that may be required and will investigate how these could be implemented. The two Councils have been working with the Energy Savings Trust, and it is clear that there is high interest from providers who are looking to invest in the South Warwickshire area.
The feasibility will consider a number of key issues including:
- Equity in provision - seeking to ensure that households without driveways could access convenient charging.
- A joined-up approach with other initiatives across the South Warwickshire area, especially aligning with the ambition of Warwickshire County Council as Highways A
- A "portfolio approach", will be considered to help more profitable locations subsidise a wider network of electric vehicle charging points across the more rural areas of South Warwickshire.
- Ensuring that the right speed of charger is in the right location, this will need to also take account of the impact on the wider electricity grid.
- Making sure that the location of chargers are in well-lit locations and addresses issues surrounding accessibility to cater for the needs of all users, including disabled and older people.
It is hoped that the study will be completed in the next four months and following this report both Councils will procure a partner to rollout the infrastructure.
The Government has approved a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, and hybrids vehicles by 2035. With this backdrop it is ever more important that there is the availability of charging facilities for electric vehicles.
Following the decision of Cabinet, Councillor Bill Fleming, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change said: "Today's decision by The Cabinet is an extremely important step towards making sure that the Electric Vehicle Charging infrastructure in the district is fit for the future. Whilst I am very proud that the Stratford-on-Avon District Council area has more publicly available electric vehicle charging devices than any other district in the West Midlands (*) and 8th nationally, there is always more that we can do."
The decision is subject to the approval of the same proposal being considered by The Cabinet at Warwick District Council on 8 March 2023. Following the receipt of the recommendations in the feasibility study it is anticipated that there will be a procurement exercise to select a preferred partner and that improvements to the network would start to be rolled out this calendar year.
(*) - Source - Department of Transport (correct as at 25 Jan 2023)
