ON-STREET charge points for electric vehicles could be seen on Solihull’s streets in the future in a bid to tackle the borough’s carbon footprint.
Solihull councillors were set to discuss how to encourage electric vehicle usage last night at the economic development and managed scrutiny board meeting last night (Wednesday).
The board was asked to consider and recommend amendments to the draft Solihull Electric Vehicle Strategy 2019 report which outlines a number of options to reduce carbon emissions.
The council says it recognises that road transport is the main source of harmful air pollution and carbon emissions in Solihull. Eliminating these harmful impacts from transport is therefore a key priority.
The council has been successful in bidding to be part of a pilot to install on-street charging infrastructure alongside Coventry City Council, Transport for West Midlands and City of Wolverhampton Council.
The council has been given funds from the Department for Transport to install charging points to eight businesses along the A45 corridor with up to eight chargers at each.
The council says work on this will begin this month.
Councillor Andy Mackiewicz, cabinet member for climate change, planning and housing, said: “We have a number of initiatives which involve encouraging people to leave their cars at home and use public transport or walk or cycle to get around the borough.
“However we also know that for many people that isn’t an option so we also want to do as much as possible to support people to swap their petrol or diesel cars for electric vehicles.
“They will still produce some particulate matter, however it offers us the chance to significantly reduce pollution.
“The draft Electric Vehicle Strategy identifies and addresses the many barriers people face when they consider making that change. In particular it looks at issues with charging infrastructure, how we can support taxis and private hire vehicles, how we can change people’s perceptions of electric vehicles and what support we can give through planning and regulations.
“I look forward to seeing the Electric Vehicle Strategy progress.
“Alongside this, Solihull Council has recently purchased three more electric vehicles for staff to use for Council business.
“This will give staff some experience of electric vehicles and will go some way to improving air quality and reducing carbon emission as they carry out their work.
“It will also result in lower running costs for the Council fleet, giving value for money to residents.”
