Bury Council in Greater Manchester is set to ramp up its efforts in the EV charging space, having appointed Be.EV as its partner to double the number of charge points in the region. The £9 million project will see more than 30 new chargers installed across over 20 public sites, such as town centre car parks, with the majority being rapid or ultra-rapid chargers, capable of charging a typical EV to 80% in 20 minutes to an hour.
Be.EV is a known network in the North West of England and is Transport for Greater Manchester’s preferred charging partner. The company has previously installed chargers in and around Bury, making it a familiar name for local EV drivers. The council aims to double the existing 26 publicly available charging points across Bury within the next two years, in line with its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2038.
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Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, commented on the partnership, stating, “This was a concessionary contract, so all up-front installation and operating costs were being undertaken by Be.EV, while the council would receive a rental income. We will be working on getting the chargers in the ground as soon as possible, certainly later this year.”
The council has also made strides towards reducing emissions in its own fleet, having ordered 15 electric delivery vans to replace ageing vehicles. Quinn called the move a “major investment,” demonstrating the council’s commitment to sustainable transportation.
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With the government’s recent announcement to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, it is essential for local authorities to take the lead in supporting the transition to electric vehicles. Bury Council’s partnership with Be.EV and investment in its own electric fleet sets an example for other councils to follow. As Be.EV notes, “The electrification of transport is not a choice, it’s an imperative,” and this move by Bury Council is a step in the right direction.
