26 new electric vehicle charging points are now available for use across County Durham and Northumberland as North East Mayor Kim McGuinness's ambitious project to green the region's transport reaches its first significant milestone.
Northumberland County Council has completed the installation of all 10 of its new EV charging points, whilst Durham County Council has installed 16 of its 19 chargers, with the final three set to be in place early next year.
The installations form part of Mayor Kim’s 92-charger rollout across the North East, designed to support the region's transition to greener transport and ensure rural communities are not left behind in the shift to electric vehicles.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “As both someone who owns an EV, and lives in a rural community, I know just how important improving access to chargers is as we make the move to a greener North East.
“This isn't just about greening our transport – it's about ensuring no one is left behind as we move towards a more sustainable future.
“By putting this infrastructure in place now, we're giving people across the North East the confidence to make the move to EVs, knowing they'll be able to charge their vehicles wherever they live, work or visit."
The new charging points have been strategically located to serve areas where access to EV infrastructure has previously been limited, demonstrating the Mayor's commitment to ensuring residents and visitors in rural locations have the same opportunities to make the switch to electric vehicles as those in urban centres.
This milestone represents significant progress in Mayor Kim's mission to deliver sustainable, green transport across the North East, whilst boosting local economies by making rural destinations more accessible to EV drivers.
Funded through the Governments previously announced Levelling Up Fund, the 92 EV chargers follow earlier investment through the fund to deliver 52 zero emission buses across Arriva, Go North East and Stagecoach.
Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation, Keir Mather said: “We want everyone to be able to charge up on the go no matter where they live. These latest additions are just the start of our record boost to the charging network, with thousands more chargers planned for the North East and a further £19 million allocated to install chargers and cross-pavement charging channels for people without driveways.
“Chargepoint numbers in the North East continue to grow and drivers can also save thousands off the price of new EV’s through our Electric Car Grant, with over 40,000 people already benefiting.”
Over the next five years the North East will see more than 1,000 charge points installed as residents, communities and visitors are supported with the transition to electric vehicles.
