EV charger mileage enough to reach the moon
COUNCIL-owned electric vehicle chargers have helped motorists complete more than 280,000 miles of net zero driving since the first set were installed in 2020.
Cars topped-up via the growing network of chargers at 25 car parks around the city have completed a distance further than a journey to the moon, saving almost 74,000kg of CO2 while using 100% renewable energy.
Thanks to a new-round of 48 charging-point installations at 13 council-owned car parks, motorists now have the chance to charge their cars while they're at the shops or on a trip to the beach.
The latest additions means there are now 80 EV charge points and bays in 25 council car parks around Swansea operated for the authority by Clenergy EV, including ten at the new Bae Copr Bay De/South car park located underneath Swansea Arena.
Andrea Lewis, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Service Transformation, said the charge points are a real boost for electric car owners and aims to encourage more people to consider switching from petrol or diesel vehicles in the future.
As well as this the council is also developing its own fleet of green vehicles, with currently the biggest fleet of any public sector organisation in Wales, including 72 battery-powered and eight hybrid vehicles along with 50 more due for delivery early this year.
The council has trained 16 staff to service and maintain green vehicles and aims to introduce more charging points at council depots and add to the fleet so that all council vehicles are zero emission by the end of the decade.
Cllr Lewis said: "As a council we're ambitious to meet our target to be a net zero council by 2030, setting an example to others and encouraging them to join us on a journey towards a net zero city by 2050.
She said: "The newly-installed public charge points have been chosen following discussions with ward members and other groups and organisations. They are specifically located for convenience for day-trippers and people shopping in local communities.
"The new crop of EV charge points are the latest step in the right direction and it's our plan to increase their numbers over the coming years. This is just the start."
Will David, CEO at Clenergy EV said: "We are delighted to continue to support the City of Swansea Council's charge point rollout. The first set of charge points have already provided 270,000 zero-emission miles to EV drivers in the area since 2020.That number will only increase as more and more Swansea residents start switching to cleaner modes of transport."
The EV charge points have been paid for by the Welsh Government Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Transformation Fund.
All the charge points are 'fast chargers', capable of delivering 7-22kWh to owners' vehicles while they are out and about and all are powered by electricity from 100% renewable sources.
A full list of the locations of the city's network of charge points www.swansea.gov.uk/electricvehicles
- East Burrows Car Park (2)
- Pell Street Car Park (2),
- Trawler Road Car Park (2),
- Swansea Point Car Park (2),
- Water Street, Pontarddulais Car Park (2)
- Gorwydd Road, Gowerton Car Park (2),
- Vardre Road, Clydach Car Park (2)
- Lime Street, Gorseinon Car Park (adjacent to Gorseinon RFC) (2)
- Treharne Road, Morriston Car Park (2)
- The Bath's Car Park (2)
- Landore Park & Ride (6)
- Fabian Way P&R (6)
- Port Eynon Car Park (2)
- Bae Copr Bay - De/South (10)
- The Strand Car Park (2)
- Clyne Car Park (Blackpill) (2)
- The Quadrant MSCP (2)
- Knab Rock Car Park (2),
- Recreation Ground (6)
- Northampton Lane Car Park (8)
- Langland Bay Car Park (2)
- High Street MSCP (6)
- The Dairy Car Park, Mumbles (2)
- Caswell Bay Car Park (2)
- Bracelet Bay Car Park (2)