EV charge points plan revealed

ONE borough in the region is investing £500,000 into new electric vehicle charging points and now has an idea where they will be.

In a new report presented at Monday’s Trafford council executive meeting, the number of and potential locations of the first phase roll-out of new charging points were announced.

Coun Stephen Adshead, executive member for the environment, indicated the phased roll-out of EV charging points would eventually give a total of around 150 publicly available charging bays in the borough.

The plan is to install a mixture of fast (full charge in one to six hours), rapid (full charge in 20 to 60 minutes) and ultra-rapid (full charge in five to 10 minutes) charging points across Trafford.

Installation work is set to begin on the first phase - including 46 new charging points, each with two charging bays - from as early as January to March 2022, which will take approximately three months to complete.

Here’s where those new EV charging points are pencilled in for:

■ Altrincham: three fast chargers and three rapid chargers - total six

■ Ashton on Mersey: three fast chargers - total three

■ Bucklow St Martins: two fast chargers and two rapid chargers - total four

■ Flixton: two fast chargers and two rapid chargers - total four

■ Hale: three fast chargers - total three

■ Longford: two fast chargers and two rapid chargers - total four

■ Sale: three fast chargers and three rapid chargers - total six

■ Stretford: two fast chargers and two rapid chargers - total four

■ Timperley: two fast chargers and two rapid chargers - total four

■ Urmston: eight ultra-rapid chargers total eight

Grant funding from outside organisations is also available to the council to support the roll-out.

The council report said: “The accelerated roll-out of EV infrastructure to support increased demand as the transition from using fuel to electric vehicles is ever more important following approval of the Clean Air Plan in 2021.”

The council is working with supplier Be.EV to finalise suitable locations for the charging points across Trafford and Be.EV is set to invest around £3.6m into the initial roll-out.

Be.EV would then own and be responsible for the installation and management of the network.

The council could share in any profits made through the Be.EV networks once they’re up and running to the tune of an proposed 10-20pc - but could earn more if it chose to invest in direct ownership of the scheme.

Be.EV members will benefit from reduced tariffs at the charging points too, with membership packages available.

It is understood consultation on the matter will be ongoing as plans are finalised.