Up to 500 electric vehicle charging points are to be installed across Solihull, more than doubling the borough’s existing EV charging capacity.   

Qwello will install the new charging points within council car parks and on-street destinations by 2026

European charge point operator Qwello will install the new charging points within council car parks and on-street destinations by 2026 under a new contract awarded by Solihull Council.

Phase one of the rollout will see over 150 charging points installed across nine locations, with the first sites anticipated to go live this summer.

As part of the contract, awarded following a competitive tender process, ultra-rapid charging points will also be provided by InstaVolt, with 16 due to be installed in the first phase alone.

The scheme supports the council’s electric vehicle strategy, which seeks to encourage wider adoption of electric vehicles and tackle barriers to ownership by increasing accessibility to EV infrastructure, whilst contributing to the council’s targets for reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change.

The rollout of the new charging points is supported by a £800,000 grant from the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) pilot project, awarded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and Department for Transport (DfT).

Installation, operation and maintenance of the charging points will come at zero cost to the council.

Councillor Andy Mackiewicz, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Planning, said: “The awarding of this contract drives our ambition for Solihull to be at the forefront of electrification both regionally and nationally, and we are delighted to be working with leading suppliers Qwello and InstaVolt on this exciting scheme.”

Qwello UK’s managing director, Martin Hale, said: “Qwello has a proven track record of delivering charging solutions across many European cities and towns including London, Munich and Stockholm. All our chargers offer contactless payment as standard and feature a class-leading clear and accessible user interface.

“We are thrilled to be working with our installation and maintenance partners Radius Charge Installations, InstaVolt and Solihull Council to help realise their ambitious EV charging plans.”

The full list of phase one locations includes:

• Parkfield Drive, Castle Bromwich
• North Solihull Sports Centre, Chelmsley Wood
• Tudor Grange Leisure Centre, Town Centre
• Station Road, Town Centre
• Dominion Court Car Park, Town Centre
• Oxhill Road, Solihull Lodge
• Village Car Park (behind Greswolde Arms), Knowle
• Library Car Park, Balsall Common
• Main Road, Meriden