Global EV charging company JOLT has announced its UK launch, including a partnership with the London Borough of Barnet to provide a network of free fast and clean roadside charger stations to EV drivers for the first time.
The funding comes from a £2.1m grant to the borough as part of the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) pilot project, supporting the expansion of on-street charging and infrastructure across the country.
The firm plans to roll out thousands of charging stations across the UK in the coming years, as part of its mission to help reduce barriers to EV ownership and to accelerate e-mobility in the UK as a sustainable transport option.
EV drivers in the area will have access to 7kWh, or around 30 miles of free and fast EV charging per day based on approximately 15 minutes of charging time, without needing at-home charging facilities.
The move aims to tackle the problem of electric vehicle charging shortages, with their being at least 36 electric cars on the road for every one charger according to the Society of Manufacturers and Traders.
Earlier this year the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak received criticism from industry insiders over his decision to delay the 2030 ban on petrol vehicles from 2030 until 2035.
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“The government is giving local authorities across England additional help to energise their chargepoint roll-out plans. Today’s commitment will lead to thousands of new chargers being installed, and plans for tens of thousands extra in due course, so that more people than ever can make the transition to using EVs,” said transport minister Jesse Norman.
JOLT UK country manager John Rainford said: “Accelerating e-mobility in a way that’s equitable and sustainable to all involved, is at the heart of what we do at JOLT”.
“We are proud to express our commitment to making EV charging accessible through seamless customer experience, especially for those without home charging, and empowering EV ownership in the UK, while helping minimise emissions created by transport.”
He added that the firm anticipates “accelerated growth and expansion” of JOLT’s EV infrastructure across the country.
