New Char.gy CEO sets target of 100,000 public EV chargers by 2030

By / 1 year ago / UK News / No Comments

Char.gy has set an ambitious new installation target of 100,000 public chargers by 2030 under newly appointed CEO John Lewis.

Char.gy is planning a 100,000-strong network of public EV chargers across the UK by 2030 under new CEO John Lewis

The on-street charging network said it was “charging forward” with its mission to make EV ownership accessible to households without driveways – and had appointed Lewis to lead the company through its next phase of growth.

He takes over from founder Richard Stobart and will draw on his extensive experience of infrastructure roll-out with numerous global telecoms and energy businesses to assist local authorities in England progress towards their net zero goals through utilisation of Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding.

2021 report by the Policy Exchange think tank found that the UK needs to ramp up the installation of EV charge points by five times the current rate if the plan to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 is to be realised.

Char.gy passed a major milestone earlier this year after installing its 2,000th public charging point, but it’s also stepped up its rate of installation significantly in recent months, installing just under 1,000 charge points from January to March. This accounted for one in three of all new UK public charge points installed in the quarter.

The company, which celebrates the fifth birthday of its first public charge point later this month, said its new installation target of 100,000 public chargers by 2030 would be underpinned by its continued “popular low-cost operating model supported by tried-and-tested infrastructure”.

Char.gy passed a major milestone earlier this year after installing its 2,000th public charging point,

It will focus on the installation of its lamppost and bollard chargers on-street and within car parks, community housing and at public venues such as hotels. It also continues to expand its geographical reach with its first installations underway in Scotland.

But the business also has new charging products in the pipeline to help it offer a wider range of charging solutions.

John Lewis said: “Char.gy is built on the ambition of bringing accessible and convenient charging options to every driver in the UK. On this trajectory, we are facilitating electric vehicle adoption and spearheading the energy transition. The potential impact of our mission is enormous – I am looking forward to both driving the business towards its goals and partnering with local authorities to make lower emissions a reality.”

As Lewis drives the company’s next phase of development, founder Richard Stobart will now focus his attention on product innovation and market development.

He added: “I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished so far, from ramping up our installation pace to extending on-street charging to more individuals who lack driveways, to introducing our ‘Night Saver’ tariff that equates the cost of on-street charging with domestic rates overnight. As we gear up for the next stage of our expansion, I am delighted to welcome John as our new CEO to lead our business towards its ambitious goals.”

For more of the latest industry news, click here.

Natalie Middleton

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day. Natalie edits all the Fleet World websites and newsletters, and loves to hear about any latest industry news - or gossip.