EV Driving on Isle of Wight Made Simple with Mer Charging

The Background

A popular tourist destination, the Isle of Wight attracts visitors with its 67 mile-long coastal path, award-winning beaches, and historical sites. In addition to their annual music festival, visitors can enjoy water sports including kayaking and sailing as well as the island’s zoo, making it an ideal holiday location for families. Half of the island is protected as an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, and walkers and cyclists can explore the island’s beautiful coast and countryside. 

EV drivers can access the Island from ports in Portsmouth, Lymington, Southampton, and Southsea, taking car ferries and passenger services.  

Despite being accessible for visiting EV drivers, however, the Island lacked adequate EV charging infrastructure for visitors, as well as residents. Many homes and holiday cottages only offer on-street parking, which means many drivers are unable to charge their EVs at home. The Island required significant public charging infrastructure to support EV drivers. 

The Solution

With installers Joju Charging, Mer signed up to a project with Isle of Wight Council to provide various types of EV charging on the Island. As well as upgrading and expanding some historic infrastructure, Mer’s work involved expanding charging coverage across the whole Island.   

The project included:  

The installation of 10 dual on-street fast chargers

Tailored towards local resident use, these chargers are supported by OZEV and Isle of Wight Council funding. Charger locations include Newport, Cowes, Ryde, and Ventnor, and were chosen in line with local resident demand. Drivers without off-street parking and prospective drivers who cannot charge at home will be able to benefit from using Mer’s public network.  

Seven standalone rapid and 16 dual fast chargers, fully funded by Mer

Karl Anders, Managing Director at Mer UK, said “When local authorities work well with their communities to expand the local charge point network and increase accessibility for those who cannot access EV charging at home, it acts as a great incentive to improve public confidence in the adoption of EVs.”  

The dual fast chargers can be found in public car parks across areas such as Newport, Ryde, Shanklin, Sandown, Cowes, and Yarmouth.   

We are already exploring the expansion of some of the locations and additional charging infrastructure. 

Supporting Council Climate Goals

Isle of Wight Council are aiming to meet net zero by 2030 in its own operations, and net zero in emissions by 2040 across the area; EV charging forms a part of their goals. As part of it’s Climate and Environment Strategy 2021-2040, the Council are aiming to increase the number of public rapid and fast charge points to at least 72 sockets in Council and supermarket carparks and petrol stations, as well as ensuring one socket is available per eight households by 2040 via on-street charging.