The local authority for the UK county of Somerset has secured nearly £3.8 million in government funding to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure, targeting residents without access to off-street parking.
The funding, provided through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme, will support a 17-year contract to deliver at least 1,606 AC charging sockets of up to 7kW, aimed at improving overnight charging. The council will also fully fund up to 20 rapid charging points of 50kW or more.
To reduce costs, the authority plans to retrofit existing lampposts and street lighting. It will receive annual income from operators of the new charge points to cover administration costs. A quarter of the chargers will be allocated to rural and lower-demand areas to ensure wider access.
“By adopting this delivery approach, we can ensure that rural communities are not left behind in the transition to electric vehicle infrastructure,” said Cllr Richard Wilkins, Somerset’s Lead Member for Transport and Digital. “We are committed to allocate 25% of all chargepoints to these locations, to help meet the needs of all residents.”
The LEVI fund, established by the Department for Transport, is intended to accelerate charging rollout in areas with limited private sector investment. Neighbouring Cornwall recently secured £5.5 million from the programme to deploy up to 2,000 chargers.