Cardiff Capital Region is working with Connected Kerb to roll out 366 public chargers at 144 locations, based on a more affordable and long-term business model.
The Cardiff Capital Region is working with electric vehicle charging specialist Connected Kerb to boost the city’s public charging infrastructure four-fold.
The rollout will see 366 new public chargers installed across 144 locations in the Welsh capital, with more than 50 per cent widened for drivers with disabilities. The deployment is based on what claims to be a more affordable and long-term business model.
Electric vehicle-ready by 2030
A report found that Wales’s EV charging network rollout has been lagging behind goals, with fewer than half of the Welsh government’s main commitments on charging delivered. The partnership will help reach the Welsh government’s projected requirement for EV charge points in the Cardiff Capital Region by 2025, and supporting its nationwide target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb, said: “Making sure nobody is left behind in the full switch to electric vehicles is essential if the UK is to be EV-ready by 2030. This includes making charging affordable, reliable and hassle-free for residents without access to off-street parking which is why this project in the Cardiff Capital Region is transformational.
“Providing wider charging bays for drivers with accessibility requirements is just the first step on our ambition to make one in five bays across our network fully accessible. Connected Kerb continues to work with industry and disability organisations to make sure we get this right.”
More than 50 per cent of the new charging bays in the Cardiff region – 186 in total – are designed to provide more space for drivers when plugging in, accommodating those with wheelchairs. A second phase roll-out of 68 dual chargers will take place across 66 sites.
The project was funded jointly by Cardiff Capital Region, Connected Kerb, UK Gov, Welsh Gov and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) via grant funding.
“The transition to electric vehicles is core to our vision for a net-zero Cardiff Capital Region by 2050, and access to high-quality public charging infrastructure is central to this transition,” said Charlotte Davidson, Cardiff Capital Region. “It makes putting accessibility at the heart of this partnership a no-brainer.”
Connected Kerb’s technology and business model is designed to be as affordable as possible, giving all communities access to reliable public EV charging. Its infrastructure has a long-lasting design, enabling the company to offer contracts of 15-25 years. The charging infrastructure is located below ground and installed once, with enabling chargers that can be easily switched on by adding the above ground charge point to match consumer demand.
The company claims that this long-term business model means Connected Kerb can access private finance at a lower cost of capital. This substantially improves the economics of EV charging, making it affordable to install, ultimately reducing the cost for drivers and opening more opportunities to install chargers in areas that were previously uneconomical. For example, those with low footfall, rural areas, or areas with poor grid infrastructure.
Each of Connected Kerb’s chargers provides a fast charge between 7kW and 22kW. Every charge point will feature payment via the Connected Kerb app with a consistent network and tariff across the sites, enabling fair and equal access for everyone.
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Quelle/Source: Smart Cities World, 25.07.2023
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