Charge point operator Believ has opened new offices in Leeds to further strengthen its capabilities and connections in the north of England.

Guy Bartlett, chief executive officer at Believ

The new base will provide a hub for the company to engage with new local authority and business customers and extend the company’s regional offering, supporting its work to provide enhanced localised support for local authorities and businesses.

The new offices will also help accelerate the rollout of public charging infrastructure in the north. infrastructure remains wide. London has 131 EV chargers per 100,000 people compared with just 31 per 100,000 in the North West and 36 per 100,000 in Yorkshire and Humberside; two areas in the UK with the least number of public access EV chargers.

Believ, a joint venture between telecommunications company Liberty Global and Zouk Capital, will take action to improve regional infrastructure and accelerate the switch away from petrol and diesel vehicles in the area.

Guy Bartlett, chief executive officer at Believ, said the priority of charge point operators (CPOs) must be tackling regional disparities and making EV charging accessible across the nation.

“While businesses and local authorities are investing and increasing the number of charge points available to the public, we must ensure that regions and local communities are not left out. If we don’t, we risk a north-south divide coming in the way of large-scale EV adoption.

“Opening our Leeds office backs our mission to deliver ‘cleaner air for all’ and do our bit to deliver the national government’s ambition of installing 300,000 publicly accessible charge points by 2030. If EV infrastructure is insufficient, adoption will take a hit, and it is the responsibility of CPOs like us to provide a means to a sustainable end.”