Due to Watford’s commitment to sustainable transport, the town is a good place to be for electric vehicle owners
Watford has once again achieved a prominent position in the UK's top 10 for charging devices per 100,000 population, a milestone underscoring the town's commitment to sustainable transportation and its robust electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.
How did we achieve this?
This powerful performance and progress is due to 3 successful funding bids by Watford Borough Council under the On-Street Residential ChargePoint Scheme (ORCS).
Part of the ‘Transforming Travel in Watford 2021-2041’ strategy, aiming to revolutionise the travel patterns of Watford. This included 74 new EV charging points and a further 79 currently underway to installation.
These initiatives have been backed by the government's Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and supported by the Energy Saving Trust. Through partnership with (OZEV) and the Watford Borough Council’s contract with Blink Charging each party covers 50% of
installation costs.
Speaking on the town’s impressive performance, elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: “Our goal has always been to create a greener and more sustainable future for Watford’s residents, and this achievement underscores our work to leading the way in electric vehicle use and infrastructure.”
Councillor Ian Stotesbury, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Sustainability also commented: “The continued growth of Watford’s EV charging network reflects the town's commitment to sustainability and clean transportation. As the number of plug-in vehicles in Watford
rises, the expanded network of charging points ensures that residents have convenient access to the infrastructure needed to support their electric vehicles.”
What’s next?
Phase 3: Continuing the mission to expand Watford’s EV infrastructure the town plans on introducing 48 new charging points and 40 lamp column charge points.
As the world continues to tackle climate change, initiatives like electric vehicle charging points will play an increasingly important role in building sustainable communities. You can find out more about what the council is doing at watford.gov.uk/sustainablewatford.