Source East network to switch off

Source East network to switch off

By
Zapmap
Published

The Source East public charging network will close at the end of the month, with EV drivers in the East of England potentially needing to join a number of different networks to access existing charge points.

Having operated for more than five years, the network’s operator no longer has funding to run Source East and so will shut it down on the 31st of March.

Run by EValu8 – which is now part of the University of Hertfordshire’s commercial arm, UH Ventures – Source East was created in 2011 as part of the Government’s Plugged-in-Places scheme.

Source East points had been free for members, though EValu8 has been working with ChargePoint Services – the charge point company also behind the GeniePoint network – to move the network to a commercial operation. Because Source East was created in the early days of EV charging in the UK, there are a number of legacy chargers though which cannot be migrated over.

Because Source East was an umbrella network and worked with local authorities, it means there are a number of different scenarios that will happen in regards to charge point access.

Those charge points that have been upgraded by ChargePoint Services will be able to be accessed via the GeniePoint network, a pay-as-you-go set-up that requires either an app or RFID card to use. Any RFID card can be registered for access though, so existing Source East card holders can register with GeniePoint and use the same card on a new account.

Chargemaster’s Polar network also has a number of points that can be used by Source East members, and these will revert to access solely by Polar Plus subscribers and Polar Instant PAYG customers.

Other points are installed at businesses and local authority-run locations. For the likes of car dealerships and destination businesses, access will depend on the point owner.

For locations such as park and ride sites, council car parks, or local authority offices, it is unclear what will happen on a wide scale, and will depend largely on the existing charge point type. Those that can be upgraded to GeniePoint units will likely switch over, but there is little information available of local authority units, and some may decide to close the point/s down all together.

Source East members are being advised as to the situation, and Zap-Map will continue to provide as up to date information on charge points as possible.

You can find all of the existing Source East charge points on the map, and information on network operators such as Polar and GeniePoint on the new networks pages.