Council awarded funding for electric vehicle charging points

Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) has been awarded over £450,000 of funding to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The funding, provided by Welsh Government’s Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) Transformation Fund will see charging points installed in public places, car parks and at workplaces across the county borough.

While exact locations are yet to be finalised, areas set to benefit from the scheme include:

• Brynmenyn Industrial Estate - superfast charging hub feasibility 
• Bridgend Life Centre
• Porthcawl
• Ogmore Vale Life Centre
• A Maesteg town car park
• A Bridgend town centre car park
• Bryncethin Depot
• BCBC Civic Offices

The project aims to meet Welsh Government’s vision for charging in Wales which is that by 2025, all users of electric cars and vans in Wales are confident that they can access electric vehicle charging infrastructure when and where they need it. 

In addition the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal has been awarded significant funding for on-street charging points and an electric taxi fleet. Bridgend has currently been allocated six electric taxis which are being made available on a ‘try before you buy’ basis for current taxi fleet operators. As part of the scheme, a charging point for taxis has been installed in Hillsboro Place Car Park, Porthcawl.      

A further £300,000 of funding is available to the local authority through a Welsh Local Government ULEV grant. The funding is supports the local authority's commitment to provide a phased a plan for the electrification of all fleets and depots by 2030, as part of its Net Zero Carbon commitments.

The funding can be used to upgrade power systems and the digital support needed as well as the charging points.

It is also likely that further funding will be made available to continue to support the public sector to transition to ultra-lo emission vehicles.

We are receiving increasing enquiries from the public about charging electric vehicles as uptake increases.

Bridgend County Borough Council takes our 2030 Zero Carbon agenda very seriously and we welcome the Welsh Government funding which will allow us to greatly improve our electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the county borough.

Councillor Stuart Baldwin, Cabinet Member for Communities