New electric vehicle charging facilities installed

Cheshire West and Chester Council has confirmed that new electric vehicle charging points will be available soon across the borough.

From mid-May, new facilities will open to allow residents and visitors to charge their electric vehicles in more locations, especially in areas where residents have no off-street parking.

An Electric Charging Hub has been created in Ellesmere Port.  At the Council’s Canalside Operations Depot up to 28 Council electric vehicles will be able to fully charge overnight and a further pair of rapid chargers will be available at the Canal & River Trust’s National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port (Boat Museum). These will give a full charge in as little as half an hour.  As well as servicing the Council’s electric fleet, the Waterways Museum chargers will also be available for use by local businesses.

From mid-May, drivers of electric vehicles will also be able to recharge their cars using two dual-socket fast GeniePoint chargers, installed and managed by ENGIE EV Solutions at each of the following car parks:

Bishop Street Car Park - Chester

Brook Street Car Park - Chester

Shrewsbury Road Car Park - Ellesmere Port

Moor Lane Car Park - Frodsham

Chester Road Car Park - Neston

Park Street Car Park - Northwich

These chargers are sited in car parks close to areas where residents lack off-street parking. The cost of charging an EV will be keenly priced to encourage people to make the switch.

The Council’s Director of Environment and Communities, Maria Byrne said: “The charging points have been installed and will be connected to a power supply ready for use around mid-May.”

“The rapid chargers at the Boat Museum are in a prime position for use by businesses along the M53 and our facilities in car parks can benefit both residents with no private driveway to install their own charging facilities, as well as shoppers and visitors.”

The project has been delivered by Council company Qwest Services in partnership with leading Energy specialist, ENGIE, using funding from the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and a Government Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) grant, along with match funding from the Council.

Pictured - One of the new charging points ready to be connected to a power supply.