Waltham Forest Council installs Chargemaster's Fast chargers for EV drivers

Drivers of electric vehicles will now be able to get a fast "˜power up' in local high streets and residential roads across the Waltham Forest borough following the installation of 24 new electric vehicle charging bays.

Working with the council, Chargemaster is installing 7kW fast chargers, capable of fully charging a car in three to four hours, at ten locations in Chingford, Highams Park, Walthamstow and Leytonstone.

The new charging points were announced following the publication of King's College London's report on air quality in the borough, which showed that the council's efforts to improve the transport infrastructure is having a positive effect on air quality. It also builds on the council's Air Quality Action Plan commitment, which was agreed in June, to ensure there are cleaner transport options available in the borough. It is estimated that by 2025 there will be around 6,500 registered electric vehicles in the borough.

Councillor Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: "More and more people are buying electric cars now that the technology is more reliable and the cost is more affordable "“ they are becoming a real alternative to petrol and diesel cars. Purely electric vehicles produce no tailpipe emissions so really support our aim to improve air pollution for everyone. Many electric cars can now travel over a hundred miles before needing to power up, but by making charging points available across the borough we can ensure that our residents, visitors and even delivery drivers, have confidence that they will be able to get a charge if they need to."

Following requests from residents and businesses to expand the offer available for drivers of electric vehicles and hybrids, earlier this year the council consulted on installing new charging points at on-street locations. The new charge points will be on the POLAR network, the UK's largest public charging network, and users will be able to charge their vehicles through a monthly payment, or on a pay-as-you-go basis.

David Martell, Chief Executive of Chargemaster, who have installed and will be maintaining the points, said: "It's great to see local authorities deploying more charging infrastructure to support a growing population of electric vehicles. With the addition of these new charging points, electric vehicle drivers in Waltham Forest, as well as those considering making the switch, will find it even easier and more convenient to own and drive an electric car."

Only electric vehicles that are being charged will be able to park in the marked bays beside the new charging points. Cars that are not being charged will receive a penalty notice.

The council has received more than a hundred requests for on-street charge points from residents without driveways and are currently looking at options for the installation of more chargers across the borough.