char.gy has secured a contract with Richmond and Wandsworth councils to upgrade and expand their electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This partnership will involve the migration and integration of existing charging networks, increasing char.gy’s network by approximately one-third.
Richmond and Wandsworth councils, early adopters of extensive on-street charging networks under the five-year Go Ultra Low City Scheme (GULCS), sought to enhance their services as the scheme concludes. Instead of replacing the infrastructure, the councils opted for a migration strategy through a competitive procurement process.
char.gy has been selected to manage the transition and operation of 950 charge points across the two boroughs. The migration will occur in three phases, with the first phase involving 368 charge points scheduled for completion by the end of July 2024, and the full transfer expected to be finalized by November 2025.
John Lewis, CEO of char.gy, commented, “We are proud to have been chosen by Richmond and Wandsworth councils as a partner to serve EV drivers across these London boroughs. This is a UK first and it represents a crucial development in the way EV infrastructure can be rolled out. It offers councils a greater degree of choice in their partnerships with private companies, bringing healthy competition to the market, which ultimately encourages operators to provide the best service possible to both councils and EV drivers.”
The contract aligns with the councils’ strategy to offer a reliable, equitable, and affordable EV charging service. The move from a single-provider model to a competitive approach is expected to enhance service quality and foster better pricing.
char.gy, founded in 2016, currently manages over 3,000 charging points across the UK. This contract will expand their network by more than a third, supported by a recent capital investment from Zouk Capital, increasing their total funding to £100 million.
