Reading residents without driveways will soon benefit from thousands of on-street electric vehicle charging points right outside their homes.

Reading Borough Council has partnered with charge point provider Char.gy to bring around 2,600 public EV charging points to residential streets across the city.

Nearly half of Reading households lack private parking, creating a massive barrier to electric vehicle ownership that this new scheme directly targets.

Under the new 15-year partnership, struck following a tender process, charge points will be rolled out across the borough, prioritising residential areas where parking is on-street. The goal for at least 90% of households without a driveway to be within 100m of a public charger.

The first charge points will begin appearing in the coming months, with around 1,500 in place within two years. Most will be fitted to existing lamp columns to keep disruption minimal, with standalone units where space allows.

It’s part of Reading’s wider push for cleaner air, greener streets and better public health. Transport accounts for around 26% of carbon emissions in Reading, and improving air quality is a core priority in the council’s climate strategy.

The council secured £866,000 from the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund to make the scheme happen, at no direct cost to residents.

John Ennis, lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, said: “We will be prioritising high-density residential areas without access to off-street parking for the installation of public charging points to clear the way for more people to make the switch to electric.

“Transport is responsible for around 26% of carbon emissions in Reading. Alongside the council’s work to increase active travel and the use of public transport, boosted by £9m government funding for 49 new electric buses, this scheme will help improve our local environment, air quality and the health of Reading residents.”

John Lewis, CEO of Char.gy, added: “Our goal is to create a network that’s reliable, accessible and fair, giving more people the confidence to make the switch to electric vehicles.”

Drivers will also get more ways to charge EVs under a separate scheme, also funded by the Government, that’s set to launch soon. A further £202,000 has been awarded to help around 400 households install pavement channels, a discreet cable channel built into the pavement, so residents can safely run a charging cable from their home to a car parked outside. More details will be announced shortly.