More charging points planned in city council upgrade.
Milton Keynes City Council is set to upgrade its public charging infrastructure to support the growing number of people making the transition from petrol and diesel cars to electric vehicles (EVs).
Following consultations with the local community and EV charging providers, the council is positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable transport through the introduction of new superhubs, dedicated charge centres, and an increase in residential power points.
A decision to begin the procurement process to select the providers is expected to take place next week.
Last month 29,802 new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were sold, that's 20.7% of the UK car market, while a record 53,423 used BEVs changed hands between July and September this year – a jump of 57% compared with the same period in 2023.
A similar upward trend is being seen across Milton Keynes, where electric cars already make up 16% of all vehicles in the city. That’s projected to reach nearly 30% by 2030 and almost 100% by 2050.
As part of the procurement process, the city council will be looking at providers who can deliver:
- Superhub charging stations: high-capacity charging capability located in busy areas that can serve a large number of vehicles at peak times, with a five-minute top up
- Dedicated charge hubs: located in both commercial and residential areas, the hubs will create a network that aligns with residents’ daily routines and commuting patterns. Charge hubs will give drivers a top-up from 10 to 60 minutes
- Residential chargers: further investment is planned in on-street chargers for households without off-street parking, designed for overnight charging
“We’re seeing more people in Milton Keynes making the shift to EVs,” said Cllr Lauren Townsend, Deputy Leader of MK City Council. “The city council has an important role to play in encouraging sustainable transport and we’re putting the infrastructure in place first, to give people the confidence to make the switch.
“These upgrades show that we’re not just supporting today’s EV drivers but laying the foundations for a fully electric future.”
