Electric vehicles in the East of England
How the Plugged In Places project is building a public charging network for drivers across the region.
Overview
What the project sets out to do
EValu8 Transport Innovations Ltd is running the Government-supported Plugged In Places project for electric vehicle charging in the East of England. The project is designed to make charging easier to find, easier to use and easier to plan around, whether a driver lives in a town, a village or on a long commute between them.
Public charge points are the visible part of the work. Behind them sit decisions about where chargers are sited, how they are connected to the grid, how they are paid for and how drivers learn that they exist. Each of these decisions is tested against real use before it is repeated elsewhere.
- Identify locations where drivers already park for long periods
- Install and monitor public charge points with local partners
- Share what works so other councils and operators can reuse it
Approach
Charging where cars are parked
Side note
Most charging is done at home or at work. Public points fill the gaps for people without off-street parking and for longer journeys.
Siting follows parking habits
Chargers are placed where vehicles stay for an hour or more, such as car parks near shops, station car parks and community car parks. Short-stay bays are avoided because they lead to drivers moving cars before a charge completes.
Site surveys look at grid capacity, footway width, lighting and access for people with disabilities. A site is only confirmed when all of these can be met without blocking pavements or existing spaces.
Learning from use
Every installed point produces usage data. The project compares session length, time of day and the mix of vehicles using each location, then uses that evidence to decide where the next points should go.
Findings are written up in plain language so that local authorities, fleet managers and community groups can understand them without specialist training.
Timeline
How the work is phased
-
Phase one
Survey and site selection
Candidate car parks are assessed for demand, power supply and planning constraints before any equipment is ordered.
-
Phase two
Installation with partners
Points are installed alongside host organisations, with agreed operating hours and maintenance arrangements in place.
-
Phase three
Monitoring and sharing results
Usage is reviewed over several months and the lessons are published for other areas to adopt or adapt.
Gallery
Charging points in use
Questions
Common questions about public charging
Points are open to any driver of a plug-in vehicle. Some sites may have time limits or payment requirements shown on the unit.
Reserved bays keep the charger free for the vehicle that needs it. Clear signage and enforcement help the points remain useful to the next driver.
Councils, businesses and community organisations with suitable parking can ask to be considered. The project will advise on the survey and connection steps.
To learn how the project works with hosts and partners, read about ways to get involved.