Here's how Devon's gearing up for an electric car revolution
The first of 14 new electric car rapid chargers are due to be turned on later this month in Exeter.
Devon expects to have more than 400 public electric car charging points installed by the end of next year - including 74 on-street rapid chargers.
All this week we're reporting on how prepared Devon is for zero emissions vehicles after 30 nations last week pledged to make EVs the 'new normal' by making them 'accessible, affordable and sustainable in all regions by 2030' at the COP 26 summit in Glasgow.
The 14 rapid chargers - which are 1.6 metres tall and can charge 28 vehicles at once - are currently being installed across Exeter and by next Christmas there will be 74 of them across Devon.
Click here to see a digital map displaying the 403 Electric Vehicle charging bays currently being delivered by Devon’s councils which can also be found on the Devon Climate Emergency website.
Places like supermarkets are also delivering charging points across the county - independently of councils - and the complete Zap Map shows all the known charging points in Devon.
Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon's cabinet member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said: “The government has committed to banning the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030, and we and our partners are planning for that future.
"By delivering these charge points it will give people the confidence to begin using electric cars with the knowledge that they are able to charge their vehicles when they need to.
"The charge points listed here are just the beginning of what will be an extensive network of facilities for the public to use throughout Devon.”
Exeter City Council currently has 14 charging bays across six sites in the city, and Plymouth City Council has 42 bays across 14 car parks which are accompanied by a further 14 bays provided by Plymouth Community Healthcare and Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust.
Mid Devon District Council has installed eight charging bays across its three leisure centres in the district and the multi-storey car park in Tiverton.
Torridge District Council offers four active bays across its public car parks.
In 2020, Devon County Council, Teignbridge District Council and South Hams District Council installed three cutting-edge ‘rapid’ charge points at Chudleigh Library car park, Buckfastleigh’s Mardle Way car park and at Ivybridge’s Glanvilles Mill car park. These were funded by Highways England and provide six charging bays in total.
Dartmoor National Park Authority has installed two fast charging bays at the Haytor Visitor Centre.
Up to 150 publicly accessible on-street charging bays are being installed through the Rapid Charging Devon project, funded by Innovate UK.
In addition, there will be 17 charging bays dedicated for shared car-club vehicles. These provide a mix of rapid charging – which will provide most electric vehicles with an 80% charge within 30 minutes – and fast charging.
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