Electric car drivers in Hampshire are set to benefit from the largest EV charging programme in England, with plans for 17,000 new charge points. The infrastructure will be installed in areas where off-street home charging is not available.
Government-Funded Initiative
This project is part of the government-funded Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund, supported by significant private investment from Charge Point Operator, Believ. It aims to meet rising demand for convenient EV charging. Installations are expected to begin later this year, with around 500 charge points planned for the first year.
Local Authority Support
Councillor Kirsty North, Hampshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Lead for Universal Services, said: “This expansion significantly accelerates our efforts to meet rising demand from residents for convenient and reliable electric vehicle charging close to home. Importantly, we can deliver this major rollout at no cost to the County Council.”
She added: “The scale of the scheme reflects our ambition to embrace new technology and support the transition to cleaner transport. Supporting more people to switch to EVs improves local air quality and reduces carbon emissions. We will work with Believ to deliver this scheme and encourage residents to nominate locations for charge points.”
Private Sector Partnership
Guy Bartlett, CEO of Believ, said: “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 across Hampshire.”
Government Backing
Labour Party Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather commented: “Drivers in Hampshire will benefit from 17,000 new public EV chargers, backed by a £6.6 million Government investment, giving residents the confidence to make the switch wherever they live or travel.”
He added: “We’re making it easier and cheaper to go electric – with a further £600 million to accelerate charge point rollout across the UK, and with our Electric Car Grant helping over 110,000 drivers save up to £3,750 when buying a new EV.”
