Newport City Council has awarded Urban Fox a contract to install one of the first lamppost electric vehicle charging networks in Wales.

Urban Fox will install 120 chargers across Newport using existing streetlamps

The charging firm, a partnership between Balfour Beatty Investments and Urban Electric Networks, will install 120 chargers across the city, with some streets featuring multiple units.

Instead of building new infrastructure, the chargers will be installed directly onto existing streetlamps to maximise pavement space, improve accessibility and maintain the character of the residential streets.

The deal marks a significant milestone in both Urban Fox’s journey and the country’s transition to sustainable transport.

Urban Fox was founded to address the growing need for accessible and innovative EV charging infrastructure and provides end-to-end solutions, from funding and planning to installation and maintenance. Its range of EV charging solutions, including the retractable UEone charge point.

Oli Freeling-Wilkinson, CEO of Urban Fox, said: “This is a hugely exciting moment for Urban Fox. Securing our first-ever contract and delivering one of Wales’ first lamp post EV chargers is a major milestone in our mission to revolutionise on-street charging.

“By seamlessly integrating chargers into existing infrastructure, we’re not only cutting costs and reducing street clutter but also making EV charging more accessible than ever. This is about unlocking the full potential of our streets and helping even more people transition to cleaner, greener transport. We’re proud to be playing our part in the charge towards a net zero future, and this is just the beginning.”

Councillor Yvonne Forsey, cabinet member for climate change, added: “We are continuing to look for innovative ways to expand the coverage of our charging network. These new chargers are perfect for streets where there is limited pavement space to install a more traditional charging unit.”