Swale could see double electric vehicle charge bays with new funding

Published Thursday 16 June, 2022
Last updated on Thursday 16 June, 2022

Drivers of electric vehicles could soon have more than double the chance to charge their vehicles with 18 new charging bays across Swale if plans are approved later this month.

Swale Borough Council has received £106,000 from the Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), and will also contribute £42,000 from their improvement and resilience fund, to buy and install nine electric twin charge points, creating 18 charging bays.

The council’s plans to install the new charging bays will be discussed at the first Environment Committee meeting on Thursday, 30 June.

Cllr Julian Saunders, environment committee chair at the council, said:

“We’re delighted with the funding to install 18 new electric vehicle charging points across the borough.

“The £106,000 from OZEV and the £42,000 we’ll be contributing from our improvement and resilience fund will help us double the number of bays we have here in Swale.”

Cllr Tim Valentine, environment committee vice chair at the council, said:

“We’re currently looking at options in Sheerness, Sittingbourne and Faversham where on-street charging demand is at its highest.

“This is usually where people don’t have a driveway and can’t charge their electric vehicles on the street.

“By installing our own charge points we can also keep charging prices lower for these residents.

“As a condition of the funding, we’ll be installing 7kw chargers which are suitable for a slow overnight charge rather than quick destination charging.”