Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Director of Transportation and Highways

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3), considered a briefing note which provided an update on the electric vehicle charging network in Coventry.

The Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change introduced the item, highlighting that Coventry has the highest number of charge points in any city outside of London.  It was recognised that this feeds into the battery facility, the electric bus fleets, and a number of other projects.  It was acknowledged that electric vehicles are still expensive when compared to alternatives, but once the second hand market picks up, they would become cheaper.  It was further recognised that whilst the roll-out of charge point installations would be important, that it was necessary for careful assessments to be undertaken before decisions are made whether parking in charging bays should be restricted to electric cars only, particularly in communities where there were existing parking difficulties.

The briefing note indicated that, since 2017, the Council had secured £4.6m in grant funding from the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV) under the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVCI) programme.  This has resulted in a city-wide network of 603 electric vehicle charge points (EVCPs) being installed, with a further 157 becoming operational by January 2023.  This would take the total to 760 WVCPs capable of charging 1,030 vehicles at any one time as some EVCPs are capable of charging two vehicles at the same time.  The Board were advised that currently there were 528 on street residential charge points for public use, aimed at residents without off-street parking, and a further 39 on street rapid charge points for public use within city centre and district centre locations, aimed at commercial users, notably taxis and delivery vans.  In addition, there were 36 off street charge points for public use, sited at Salt Lane and the Railway Station car parks.  44 workplace charging points were available for private use by Council staff and visitors, funded through the Plug-in Coventry initiative.  10 charge points had been installed through the Ultra-Low Emissions Bus Scheme, for private use by the bus operator at the Bus Depot.  This was to be increased as part of the All Electric Bus City programme.

It is anticipated that, as the number of electrical vehicles registered in the city increases, there will be a demand to restrict the on-street parking bays with charge points available for electric vehicle use only.  Currently, such restrictions apply to a small number of charge points across the city, with a number of time limitations for their use, dependent upon their location and the type of charge point installed.  The restrictions are managed via sensors installed in the majority of the electric vehicle parking and charging bays.  The remaining bays are predominantly in residential streets and the restrictions are advisory only, to avoid too much pressure being placed upon on-street parking.  This means that non-electric vehicles can use the bays without penalty.  This approach would be kept under review.

In addition to the expansion of the on-street EVCP network, further projects were underway to support the future development of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure within the city.  Funding had been secured for a feasibility study into the potential development of a multi-fuel charging hub, called the CLEAN hub, which could meet both strategic and local fuelling needs.  The outcome of the study is expected during late 2023.  A feasibility study has also been completed into a wireless charging project, whereby equipment installed within the road surface charges electric vehicles as they pass over it.  This charging on the move concept is being trialled in other countries and funding opportunities are being sought that would enable Coventry to undertake a similar trial.

It was noted that the recently adopted Coventry Transport Strategy fully supports the further expansion of the charge point network as a critical element of the decarbonisation of the transport system in the city.

In considering the briefing note, the Board raised comments, asked questions and received responses on the matters summarised below:

·  Whether petrol stations would be installing charging banks.

·  How Traffic Regulation Orders would work for charging points.

·  How the areas where charge points are installed are identified

·  The need to consider the demographic of local areas and being realistic about using sites that would be beneficial.

RESOLVED that, the briefing note on the update of the electric vehicle charging network be noted.  There were no recommendations to the Cabinet Member.