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 (EV).
Building on consultations with the local community and EV charging providers, the city council is positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable transport through the introduction of new superhubs, dedicated charge hubs, and residential charging options. A decision to begin the procurement process to select the providers is expected to take place next week.
The new infrastructure will accommodate the city’s growing EV take up, with electric cars already making up 16% of all vehicles in MK, which is 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, these hubs will create a network that aligns with residents’ daily routines and commuting patterns. Charge hubs will give drivers a top-up within ten minutes – one hour
- Residential chargers: further investment 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. 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.”