Osprey is deploying 15 rapid chargers for North Devon Council, more than doubling the existing rapid charging provision.

The first three chargers, now up and running at Belle Meadow car park

The district, which previously only had seven rapid chargers, has already gained the first three chargers, now up and running at Belle Meadow car park and each offering around 100 miles of charge in 25 minutes.

Charging stations at Ilfracombe, Lynton, South Molton and Barnstaple will follow, significantly improving access to EV charging for residents, businesses and the six million tourists who visit each year.

The distribution of EV charge points across the UK is currently hugely varied. Access to charging is one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption and there are concerns that more rural areas where charge points are traditionally less common, such as North Devon, risk being left behind in the EV transition if there is not visible reassurance of ample public charging.

Patrick Sherriff, property director of Osprey Charging, said: “No region should be left behind in the transition to cleaner transport. North Devon have made a choice to future-proof their communities and protect the environment, with a safe, reliable, accessible rapid charging service. Osprey’s investment in high-power charging stations in Devon makes choosing an electric vehicle possible not only for the millions of seasonal visitors to the area, but crucially to the local residents and businesses who might otherwise be nervous of making the transition.”

To support the charger roll-out, Osprey is funding installation, operation and maintenance and sharing revenue with the council.

Councillor Malcolm Prowse, Lead Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at North Devon Council, said: “Cherishing and protecting our environment is one of the council’s corporate priorities. These upcoming installations will be great news for EV drivers who currently live in or visit our district and will hopefully encourage others to consider transitioning to electric vehicles in the future. By partnering with an innovative company like Osprey, which installs, manages, and maintains the rapid chargers, we’re able to deliver essential EV infrastructure at no cost to the council.”

Earlier this year, Osprey became the first charging network to subscribe to independent public EV charging endorsement body ChargeSafe. The pledge will ensure the charging facilities at each new chargers installed in North Devon are as accessible as possible in the space available.