Wokingham Borough Council is now able to offer combined or separate parking and electric vehicle (EV) charging rates as part of a new project.
Flowbird Smart City UK has completed its first local authority EV chargepoint pilot project for Wokingham Borough Council, with drivers now able to access the company’s app.
This charges for both the parking session and the kW used to charge, therefore enabling the council to offer the combined or separate parking and charging rates.
Flowbird Smart City UK is planning for its Cale Web Terminal to be linked directly to the chargepoints in two months’ time, with this to be the first time a parking pay and display terminal will provide options for everyday park and charge users. It’s hoped this will make EV charging easier and more inclusive.
The new EV chargepoints are all three-phased, giving out a 22kWh charge. They are located in three parking sites across the borough at Dinton Pastures Country park, Carnival Pool MSCP and Shute End Eastern car parks.
Danny Hassett, Flowbird’s managing director, Smart City UK, said: “As EVs move from early adopters to the mainstream, people need simple ways to both park and charge and the option to pay in whichever ways suits them. And councils need ways to price both parking and charging separately or as a bundle. This solution will meet both needs for the first time.”
Recent EV charger installs for local authorities include a rollout for Wandsworth Council by Liberty Charge, 82 residential on-street charging sockets also installed by Liberty Charge in Northamptonshire and plans for a 500 chargepoint rollout in Barnet.
The government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy – released last week – detailed plans for a Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund to support on-street charging and EV hubs, with a pilot project to see local authorities bid for a share of £10 million.
