Public Sector Solutions: Steps to Success with EV Charging Infrastructure
We’re on a mission to bring clarity & ease to the process of installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure for public sector bodies.
Whether you're part of a team choosing to procure charging installation through an existing framework, running your own tender, or exploring options, our guide will help you identify what you need to know before stepping into a project.
In November 2023 we hosted a webinar for local authorities who are interested in learning more about EV charging infrastructure. Our experts discussed the key things to be aware of when developing an EV charging portfolio, the challenges that may arise and our solutions, learnings from previous EV charging projects, and much more.
What's in the Guide?
The Government envisions access to reliable public charge-points as a prerogative for everyone, charge-point inclusivity, and accessible on and off-street charging for private and commercial drivers.
Only 78% of homeowners have access to off-street parking. Public charging is fundamental for encouraging those without access to off-street parking to see electric transportation as a viable option for them.
At the end of August 2023, there were 48,450 electric vehicle charging points in the UK, representing a 42% increase in the total number of charging devices since August 2022. The Government expects the number of public chargers to grow to 300,000 by 2030. Get to grips with where the UK is currently at in meeting charging needs.
Mer has worked with local authorities and public sector bodies across the country, introducing and developing EV charging infrastructure to their portfolio to support their sustainability targets. Our guide shares some core learnings from their experiences so far.
Published 13 April 2022, the UK Government’s ‘Zero emission fleets: local authority toolkit’ outlines the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles that carry out council services.
From funding to finding a CPO, to choosing the right infrastructure locations, to selecting the right maintenance contracts and Service Level Agreements, check out our 5 steps for getting started with EV infrastructure.
We seek to remove the friction in the electric mobility experience – developing clear, suitable solutions that help make the move to EV easy. We aim to offer you a professional service that feels simple and suitable. Find out more about our offering.
Charging Solutions for Public & Fleet
Case Study - Durham County Council
Durham County Council’s public EV infrastructure was in desperate need of upgrading, with less than 50% of public chargers functional in 2019.
- In February 2019, Durham County Council declared a climate emergency.
- In its Climate Emergency Update Report, it committed to reducing carbon emissions from its own operations by 80% from 2008/09 levels by 2030, and aimed to install EV charging posts at all appropriate Council locations to incentivise low carbon commuting.
- Mer joined with the Scaling on Street Charging Infrastructure (SOSCI) project to install 150 EV charge points across 67 locations that were chosen based on residential demand.
- The Council won the 2022 Best EV Charging Project award from the Municipality Journal following our work.
Since the first phase of our work with Durham County Council came to an end in January 2022, Mer is continuing its work with the Council to expand the network and provide coverage across the whole of County Durham. 50 fast charge point sites are currently being installed across the County.
Case Study - East Devon Council
East Devon District Council is working to reduce its carbon emissions year on year, with the aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2040.
- In 2020, East Devon became one of the first councils in the country to trial specially-modified electric vans in its street-cleaning fleet.
- East Devon District Council worked with Mer to install charge points which now make up 25% of their fleet.
- Load balancing technology divides the available power between the vehicles, and back office software solution provides data on usage.
From the moment we appointed Mer they rose to the challenge and supported us every step of the way. We had a named contact there to keep us informed on progress and respond quickly to any issues. We found that Mer went the extra mile every time.
Maggie Bosanquet, Low Carbon Economy Team Leader at Durham County Council