West Suffolk Council has signed up Ubitricity to deploy 100 public electric vehicle charge points in 2023.

Motorists will be able to use a new network of 5kW, 7kW, 50kW and 150kW chargers and pay by debit or credit card or by using the Shell Recharge app

Ubitricity, part of Shell, will install and maintain the public charging infrastructure on council-owned land, including town centres, leisure centres, country parks and car parks.

Charging speeds will include 5kW, 7kW, 50kW and 150kW, and drivers will be able to pay by debit/credit card or by using the Shell Recharge app.

West Suffolk Council has declared environment and climate change emergencies and is working towards being carbon net zero by 2030. In December 2022, the council published its EV Infrastructure Position Statement, detailing how it will support delivery of EV charging infrastructure, supported by key partnerships such as the alliance with Ubitricity.

Cllr Andy Drummond, cabinet member for regulatory and environment at West Suffolk Council, said: “This sees a step change in availability of public charging points ahead of the change from fossil fuel vehicles in 2030. I welcome the collaboration with Ubitricity and am delighted that the energy motorists are to be supplied is from the same company that buys the energy we generate from our council-owned solar farm, and at competitive rates.”

Zap-Map data published by the Department for Transport in January 2023 shows that West Suffolk is already in the top 29% of councils nationally for public charging points for EVs, both in total number of devices, and for devices per 100,000 residents.

Toby Butler, UK managing director at Ubitricity, said: “West Suffolk council is making incredible leaps when it comes to EV charge point infrastructure, delivering a blueprint for other local authorities to follow. By expanding their network to provide convenient charging facilities for both residents and businesses, they are making the transition to EV much more accessible and helping give drivers the confidence to make the switch.”

West Suffolk Council will confirm the planned locations for the charge points later this year.