Engenie has installed the first of a series of rapid EV charge points in Cardiff city centre under plans to more than double the number of rapid chargers in the city to help meet climate targets.

The partnership with Engenie forms key cornerstone of Cardiff Council’s Green Paper on transport and clean air

The first four chargers to be installed are located on Bute Crescent and Howard Place; once complete by mid-2020, there will be 12 chargers across six sites, each available to use without membership or connection fee and offering contactless payment.

The chargers – which are being installed at no cost to the council – will help Cardiff drivers make the switch to EVs as well as underpinning plans to improve air quality. As announced last month, the city is looking at proposals intended to push drivers into using public transport and active travel – including safer cycling and walking routes – where possible while incentivising people still using vehicles to switch to electric vehicles by significantly increasing the number of publicly available EV charging points.

Patrick Sherriff, property director, Engenie, said: “Cardiff’s ‘smart city’ approach to tackling air pollution is demonstrating that there are different avenues to achieving a clean air city. Embracing technology can be equally effective as low emission zones, while also encouraging more drivers to make the switch to electric.”

Engenie is covering all costs associated with installing and servicing the rapid charging points. It will also share profits with the council, allowing the city to hit climate targets, generate revenue and support its sustainable growth plan.

Once complete, local EV drivers will benefit from one week of free charging at the new sites.