Connected Kerb has entered a partnership with South Tyneside Council to deliver the largest electric vehicle (EV) charger rollout in the North of England, with up to 2,000 new charge points to be installed across the Borough.
The Council currently has 59 electric vehicle charging points across the Borough, the partnership will see all of the old charge point units replaced with Connected Kerb's on-street chargers, with the addition of new charging points to be installed across key residential, commercial and retail locations.
All of Connected Kerb’s charge points are mapped on the Zapmap app and desktop map with live status and availability information available for all users.
EV drivers can pay for charging on Connected Kerb devices in the Zapmap app using Zap-Pay - making it simple to search, plan and pay for charging in one app. VAT receipts are stored and easy to find within the app, and live charging progress is visible at any time during your charge.
"We have an extensive network of electric vehicle charging points across the Borough supporting people to charge their vehicles while out and about,” said Councillor Ernest Gibson, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change.
“This is just one of the ways we are working hard to drive down carbon emissions. Unfortunately, the existing network is unreliable and costly to maintain.
"This new operational model is a huge step change for South Tyneside. It will greatly expand our existing charging infrastructure, providing a more reliable, modern comprehensive system while giving us scope to expand the network to meet future demand as more people turn to using electric vehicles.
"The entire country is undergoing a massive shift in ways in which we travel, and we are committed to ensuring that South Tyneside plays its part. We hope the rollout will give more residents the confidence they need to make the switch to electric, whilst supporting our sustainability agenda."
The Council is currently negotiating with Connected Kerb over a modest pricing structure for users as well as the locations for the new electric vehicle charging points.
"We are committed to delivering a future where everyone - despite where you live in the UK - can benefit from convenient, high-quality charging infrastructure, and it's rollout of this scale that will get us there,” said Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb.
"To date, the installation of charge points in the North East has been slower than other regions, but this partnership demonstrates what's possible when the right partners come together - rapid delivery to the areas that need them the most.
“We know that accessible charging infrastructure is a power driver of EV uptake and we hope our partnership with South Tyneside Council will do just that."
