Agenda item

This report provides an update on the Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network.

Members considered a report that provided an update on the Public Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Network. The EV Strategy Transport Systems Team Officer, Director of Transport Environment and Planning, Head of Highways and Transport and Executive Member for Transport were in attendance to present the report. The EV Strategy Transport Systems Team Officer outlined the report which detailed the delivery to date.

During discussion, a number of Members suggested that EV charging on terraced street should be part of public provision. In response to Member questions, the EV Strategy Transport Systems Team Officer, Director of Transport Environment and Planning, Head of Highways and Transport and Executive Member for Transport explained that:

·        The report referred to public charging within the council’s own network. The council had engaged with the Energy Saving Trust on the public EV charging strategy, along with the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). The work with the Energy Saving Trust was and OZEV detailed.

·        The council was working on a hyperhub in the city centre and as technology emerged, changing technology would provide different solutions.

·        The challenges faced in introducing on street EV charging.

·        The Chair of the Climate Emergency and Policy Scrutiny detailed an Oxford gulley EV charging trial. Officers explained the complexities of type of EV charging noting that it was not clear how it met electricity regulations. They added that information in the public domain reinforced a number of concerns regarding the product.

·        Regarding cables running across highways, this had occurred in York and within the OZEV group of authorities there was concerns with a number of authorities not looking at taking that technology forward at present. The council was taking a watching brief on trials taking place.

[The EV Strategy Transport Systems Team Officer left the meeting at 19.49]

·        Officers offered Members reassurance that the council was looking at different EV options.

·        At the moment the EV strategy was through the public network and the council was investigating options for on street EV charging.

·        With reference to a suggestion from a Member that it was felt that terraced areas were being left behind by the current strategy, officers explained that the strategy at present said that EV charging should take place in public car parks.

·        A Member referred to a pilot in Hampshire where cables were run across the pavement. Officers advised that energy companies did not allow this. They noted the purpose of pilot studies and the Chair suggested that there were inconsistencies in the approach to trials.

·        The Chir of the Climate Change Policy and Svrutiny Committee suggested two recommendations in respect of EV charging. This was to consult with residents on terraced streets and to organise a trial of gulley EV charging on terraced streets.

·        There was a regulatory environment (framework)? being developed for EV charging and officers from the council sat on he steering groups for this.

·        Officers asked Members if there were any terraced streets in particular they could undertake consultation on EV charging with. Members suggested streets in Fishergate and South Bank.

·        Regarding the price if electric vehicles, officers advised that the government had offered subsidies for business users of EV. The impact of rising electricity costs was noted.

Following consideration of the report and responses from officers and the Executive Member for Transport, the Committee then;

Resolved:

1.   That it be recommended to Executive Member for Transport  that there be consultation on EV charging with residents on terraced streets.

2.   That it be recommended to Executive Member for Transport  that there be trials on EV charging on terraced streets with input invited from Ward Members or a Members Steering Group.

Reason:     To improve access to EV charging.