On-street electric car charging scheme approved for Sheffield

Eleven EV points have been approved to assess whether Sheffield can provide an on-street charging infrastructure for people without drives

On-street electric vehicle (EV) charging points are to be installed in Sheffield after plans were approved.

The 11 charging points will be placed in areas where residents do not have private off-street parking.

The city-wide pilot project by Sheffield City Council could lead to a wider roll-out if deemed a success.

Councillor Ben Miskell said increasing the availability of charging points could encourage residents to switch to cleaner vehicles.

Mr Miskell, chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said boosting the number of EVs across Sheffield would be "good for clean air".

He said he was "really proud" the council was rolling out the trial across the city, "because we know that it is a big barrier finding available charging points".

People without drives also experienced problems "planning about where they're going to charge their vehicle", he said.

Councillor Ben Miskell said Sheffield City Council "desperately needs to prioritise EV charging points"

Mr Miskell said the trial would test whether the council could "actually manage an adequate on-street charging infrastructure, for people without drives".

However, he warned the government was "off-course with plans to have 300,000 public charges by 2030".

"That's a problem which will leave drivers in a bit of a pickle, because data suggests that by 2030 there will be 64 electric vehicles per charge point," he said.

"So we need a change in approach to this and we need to prioritise electric vehicle charging points."

Joel Teague, from the EV panel of the Renewable Energy Association, told BBC Radio Sheffield provision for EV charging was "changing rapidly".

"The UK has gone from one of the worst setups in Europe to one of the best and the rate of change now is absolutely brilliant," he said.

"They're putting in thousands each month and they're more reliable and better placed."

Proposed on-street locations:

• Stainton Road/Louth Road, S11

• Slate Street, S2

• Upwood Road, S6

• Bishopsholme Road, S5

• Flodden Street, S10

• Balmoral Road, S13

Charging points in public residential car parks:

• Hope Street, S36

• Freedom Road, S6

• Station Road, S9

Residents at the six on-street locations will receive a letter about the project including how to raise any queries, the council said.

The plan also includes a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which would see existing bays in a number of residential car parks designated for electric vehicle-only parking, it added.

The TRO will be advertised on the council website, offering the opportunity for residents to raise any formal objections.