Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 29 January 2021

HINCKLEY residents will soon be able to charge their electric vehicles, as two Council-run car parks are set to have electric vehicle charging points (EVCs) fitted for the first time in town, which will be ready for public use by Spring.

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council will shortly begin the installation works on 24 electric vehicle charging points in the two car parks – one on Lower Bond Street, and Castle car park on Hill Street, as the Council have received funding for the charging points from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

The total cost of the project is £98,000, and £70,000 of funding was secured from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), as a part of the Government’s commitment to increase the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, and preparation for the end of sales on new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

Remaining funds for the project were met by developer contributions.

The project aims to help meet the expected rise in demand for electric vehicles from the estimated current amount of 250,000 to six million of them on the road by 2030.

Most electric vehicle users are expected to charge their vehicles at home, but by installing these facilities in locations where many nearby properties do not have off-street parking, the Council aim to provide charging points and make electric vehicles more accessible to residents and visitors.

It has been identified that most electric vehicle users will charge their vehicles at home.

Installing these facilities in areas where many nearby properties do not have their own off-street parking, the council aims to provide charging points and make electric vehicles more accessible to both residents and visitors.

The town’s requirement for the charging points were identified when they applied for funding, as large areas of residential housing had no off-street parking, which was a ‘key requirement’ from OLEV.

Workers, shoppers, and town centre visitors will all benefit from the points being installed.

Initial surveys to see if rural car parks in the borough are set to be fit for the points are in hand and are in anticipation of further funding becoming available.

Pod Point Limited are the suppliers of the EVCs. Pod Point have their very own app for mobiles which can take payments and identify different charging points across the country.

Cllr. Stuart Bray, Leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, said: “The introduction of electric charging points in the borough was an election promise and I am delighted to launch this new initiative, which will see 24 electric vehicle charge points introduced to two main car parks in Hinckley.

“This is just the first step on the council’s path towards delivering our new ‘greener’ agenda.

“We know demand will only increase for these charge points and we are looking to introduce more on council car parks across the borough where we know residents will find it difficult to charge at home, and when more funding becomes available.”