Cambridge City Council will install 21 rapid and fast charge points to support EV taxi use over the next three years, after awarding a contract to eVolt.
Two charge points are already installed and operational, in the Adam and Eve Car Park close to the city centre. Another six rapid charge points will be installed across three other sites by the beginning of September.
These three other initial sites are car parks at Castle Hill and Arbury Court, and one on-street location on Newmarket Road. To start with, all points will be allocated for EV taxi use only, but this will be monitored by the council to review future usage.
The Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Taxi project is primarily being funded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, with the remainder of the funding provided by Electric Blue.
Cllr Rosy Moore, Executive Councillor for Environment and City Centre, said: “Installing these new rapid chargers for electric taxis marks a genuinely positive shift away from polluting diesel taxis.
“Work like this is one way the council is aiming to make it much easier for people to use electric vehicles, in order to help improve air quality for all of Cambridge’s residents plus all of those people who work in and visit the city.”
Justin Meyer, General Manager of eVolt UK, said: “We are committed to help Councils lower emissions, improve local air quality and provide reliable charging infrastructure where it is most needed. We anticipate that these units will help promote the use of EV taxis in Cambridge and encourage more drivers to make the switch.”
Cambridge was one of 10 councils in the UK to be awarded funding by OLEV in its competition for EV Taxi Infrastructure. The project aims to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions across the UK and provide cleaner air for a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.
