NEW electric vehicle chargers are set to be installed in towns and villages across Northumberland as the county continues its drive towards net zero.

The new infrastructure will be made up of ten rapid EV chargers, which can charge electric vehicles from empty to 80 per cent in under an hour at peak operation.

In comparison, a typical “fast” 7kWh charger, often found in homes, car parks and streets, can take up to eight hours.

The new chargers will be funded by Northumberland County Council using a £453,000 grant from the Government’s levelling up fund, and will be installed at the following locations:

  • Ashwood Business Park, Ashington
  • Chapel Street Car Park, Berwick
  • Greenwell Road, Alnwick
  • Newmarket Car Park, Morpeth
  • Otterburn village
  • Queen Street Car Park, Amble
  • Wentworth Car Park, Hexham

The new chargers will be added to the council’s existing network of 243 EV chargers by March 2025. On Tuesday, the funding was welcomed by the authority’s ruling cabinet.

Speaking at the meeting, council leader Glen Sanderson said: “We’re paying with the money we have received plus some of our own to install rapid charging points. We’re installing these right across the county.

“We’re continuing to install new chargers with all the speed that we can. The fact that these are rapid chargers is even more important in terms of the future.”

The council has said the expansion of EV chargers is a key component of its climate change action plan to help reduce transport-related carbon emissions, and contribute to Northumberland as a whole’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Sanderson added: “I’m pleased with the Council’s decision to welcome this additional funding which will help develop the EV infrastructure in the county. Since the UK has announced that it will be banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, we must ensure our county has the necessary provision in place to support this.

“We need to ensure EV charging is fully accessible and remove barriers as much as possible. The Council will support our residents and visitors – wherever possible – in the transition to EV, which will improve our air quality and help reduce carbon emissions for the benefit of everyone.”