More Electric Vehicle Charging Points set for Ipswich Borough Council car parks

Published1st August 2022

More Electric Vehicle Charging Points are set to be installed at Ipswich Borough Council car parks.

Fourteen more Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Points are being considered for installation at Council public car parks across Ipswich this year.

Charging electric vehicles is often convenient and efficient for homes with garages or driveways. However, many homes in Ipswich don’t have off-street parking. Installing charging points in the Council’s car parks will make it easier for owners of these homes to operate an electric vehicle.

Ipswich Borough Council currently provides 32 electric vehicle charging points for public use at its Crown Street, Upper Orwell Street and Elm Street car parks. New EV charging points are set to be installed in its car parks at Norwich Road, William Street, Cromwell Square, Fore Street, Smart Street, Regent Theatre and Portman Road before the end of this year supported by a £150,000 government grant.

Users of these EV charging points would be able to park for free overnight, only paying for the electricity they use.

Cllr Phil Smart, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change at Ipswich Borough Council, says:

“There remains a need in Ipswich for more Active Travel and public transport alternatives that will bring many obvious benefits to the environment by reducing congestion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. However the use of the car will continue to be the preferred option for some journeys. Increasing the number of publicly available EV charging points in the Council’s car parks would further demonstrate IBC’s leadership role in tackling the climate emergency. As more residents use electric vehicles, communities will benefit from improved air quality and lower their carbon footprint.“

Ipswich Borough Council’s Executive will consider the proposal at its meeting on 9 August 2022. Further details can be found here (see page 37).