Cardiff Council is deploying 12 rapid EV charge points from Engenie, more than doubling the number of rapid chargers in the city centre.

Engenie has received planning permission for the first four of 12 new rapid EV charge points

The chargepoints will be powered by 100% renewable energy and are expected to be installed by the end of the year at strategic locations across the busy city centre.

Engenie has already received planning permission from the council for the first four charge points, which are located on Bute Crescent and Howard Place.

Each rapid charging point is simple to use, requires no membership or connection fee and operates with standard contactless payment cards. Engenie will cover all costs associated with installing and servicing the rapid charging points. It will also share profits with the council.

The deployment of the chargers follows Cardiff Council’s recent Green Paper on transport and clean air, which was out for consultation until 1 July 2019 and puts a key focus on developing electric car infrastructure as well as decarbonising the bus fleet, developing active travel zones and increasing cycle networks. However, the council has dropped plans to introduce a Clean Air Zone.

Patrick Sherriff, business development director, Engenie, said: “Cardiff Council’s ‘smart city’ approach to clean air policy demonstrates that, in the fight against harmful air pollution, the ‘carrot’ of new infrastructure and clean technology can be just as effective as the ‘stick’ of low emission zone charges.”

By modelling major road links in the city centre, the council has also been able to predict when and where legal air quality limits will be breached if business as usual is continued. The partnership with Engenie will contribute to keeping these areas within recommended limits.

The council will monitor the 12 chargers closely over the next 3-6 months, with the potential for the scheme to be extended to more city locations with the support of local distribution network operator (DNO), Western Power Distribution (WPD).