Hounslow Council announced yesterday (5 February) its plans to install more than 1,000 electric vehicle (EV) chargers this year.

Most residents with little to no off-street parking will live around a one-minute walk from a charger by Christmas 2024 says the council.

Hounslow Council is the first of just two London boroughs to secure £1.1million from the government's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund and will begin with installing dedicated EV parking bays at existing charging points, to help improve access.

New EV chargers and charging bays will then be rolled out from the spring.

The Council has already installed 408 EV chargers in recent years, responding to an invitation for direct requests from residents and businesses.

It is now working towards a more even spread of charge points in areas where they are likely to be needed most, in line with Hounslow Council's EV Charging Strategy and its commitment to delivering 2,000 new chargers by March 2026.

Cllr Katherine Dunne, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport, said: "We are delighted to be the first of two London councils and five nationally, to benefit from this funding, enabling us to deliver more than 1,000 new EV charge points in the next year and supporting residents to switch to an electric vehicle for journeys that cannot be completed by walking, cycling or public transport.

"Our new EV chargers will support Hounslow Council's commitment to bold climate action and mean that together with residents, the Council can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve local air quality; benefiting public health and helping to tackle the climate crisis."

Technology and Decarbonisation Minister Anthony Browne said: "We're getting on with delivering our Plan for Drivers, and this latest set of measures will mean EV owners everywhere benefit from easier and more convenient access to chargepoints, with over £1.3m of dedicated funding just for Hackney, and £1.1m for Hounslow.

"Across the country the Government has already spent over £2bn to ensure a smooth switch to EVs, and we're committed to supporting drivers as we transition towards net zero in a proportionate way that doesn't burden working people."

Residents and businesses will be able to share their views on the new EV chargers during a consultation period.

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