Ealing (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ealing Council leads a west London initiative to expand electric vehicle charging points, supporting a cleaner, greener future for residents and drivers.
The borough is among the most EV-ready boroughs in the capital, having already installed 1,081 charging stations. To make it even simpler for locals to charge EVs, the council plans to more than increase that number to almost 2,500 by 2030 due to the rapidly increasing demand.
The council has partnered with five other boroughs—Brent, Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, and Hillingdon—to assist finance this ambitious goal. Together, they were able to obtain £7.5 million from the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund of the government.
Hammersmith & Fulham Council relinquished control of the project to Ealing Council. The council is currently getting ready to select a provider to set up and oversee the new charging stations.
The majority of the new charging stations will have conventional speeds (3.7 to 8 kW), making them perfect for charging overnight. In order to lessen street clutter and assist the council’s commitment to making it safer and easier for locals to walk and cycle, these will, if feasible, be mounted on already-existing lampposts.
How does Ealing plan to involve residents in charging point placements?
Ealing Council actively involves residents in the placement of electric vehicle (EV) charging points through consultations and surveys. Residents who live or work in the borough are invited to share their views and experiences on EV charging and the council’s wider charging strategy.
The council uses data analysis and mapping to identify areas where chargers are most needed, focusing on ensuring that all residents are within a 5 to 10-minute walk of a charging point, especially targeting locations with high on-street parking demand. Residents are also consulted through public surveys on specific proposals for batch installations of EV charge points.
Additionally, Ealing Council collaborates with its strategic partners for installation and management, emphasizing that collaboration with the community is key to securing the right chargers at the right speed and in the right places to optimize the network.