'Ambitious' Hackney electric vehicle charger rollout gets under way

A new charger at Follingham Court, one of Hackney's housing estates

One of the country's "biggest rollouts" of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure has begun in the London borough of Hackney.

The first of 2,500 new EV chargers has been installed at Follingham Court in Hoxton.

Hackney Council says the programme will ensure everyone in the borough "has access to high quality EV charging".

According to the local authority, the project has been informed by the views of over 2,000 residents.

The council says installing more EV charging points will "help to tackle pollution and reduce the borough's impact on climate change".

The chargers will use 100% renewable energy

The new chargers were commissioned at "no cost" to the council due to its partnership with Zest, which is funding the programme.

It will also provide and operate all 2,500 new chargers.

The company is backed by the Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund, a government sponsored public-private fund "designed to scale-up open-access, public EV charging networks in the UK".

Hackney Council says the chargers will be distributed "evenly" across the borough, with 10% being installed on housing estates.

When the rollout is complete, the local authority believes it will have the "densest network of EV chargers of any area in the country", with 3,000 chargers in the borough.

"Ambitious plans"

Councillor Mete Coban, cabinet member for climate change, environment and transport, said: "The switch to EVs will help tackle pollution and create a greener, healthier Hackney."

"This country-leading rollout will help those who need to drive to switch to EVs", he added.

James Court, chief executive of EV England, said: "It's great to see Hackney roll out their ambitious plans for EV charging.

"We need to see this replicated up and down the country so future EV drivers can be reassured and feel comfortable to make the switch to electric."

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