char.gy secures West Northamptonshire contract to install more than 3,000 on-street EV chargers

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure provider char.gy has been selected by West Northamptonshire Council to deliver more than 3,000 on-street charging points across the region, marking another significant expansion of the company’s UK network.

char.gy is a UK electric vehicle charging infrastructure company specialising in on-street charging solutions for residential areas. The business develops, installs and operates public charging networks, with a particular focus on supporting motorists who do not have access to private driveways or home charging

Installation work is due to begin later this summer, with the project funded through a combination of private investment and the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund. The rollout will see a large proportion of the new chargers installed on existing lamp posts, allowing the network to be expanded with minimal disruption to residential streets.

The contract is aimed at addressing one of the biggest obstacles to electric vehicle ownership: access to convenient charging for households without private driveways. By increasing the availability of kerbside charging, char.gy’s latest deployment is intended to make electric vehicles a more practical option for residents who rely on on-street parking.

Char.gy passed a major milestone earlier this year after installing its 2,000th public charging point, but it’s also stepped up its rate of installation significantly in recent months, installing just under 1,000 charge points in the first three months of the year.This accounted for one in three of all new UK public charge points installed in the quarter.

The company, which is celebrating the fifth birthday of its first public charge said its new installation target of 100,000 public chargers by 2030 would be underpinned by its continued “popular low-cost operating model supported by tried-and-tested infrastructure”.

According to the firm drivers using the new network will benefit from competitive pricing, with its overnight charging tariff currently set at 39p per kWh between midnight and 7am. Although higher than off-peak domestic electricity rates, the price remains below that charged by many public rapid and on-street charging providers.

The West Northamptonshire project reflects a wider trend across the UK, where local authorities are increasingly investing in residential charging infrastructure to support the transition to electric vehicles. Similar large-scale deployments have been introduced in London, Brighton and other urban areas where a lack of off-street parking has historically limited EV adoption.

For charging operators such as char.gy, partnerships with councils have become an important part of expanding nationwide infrastructure while helping government-backed decarbonisation objectives.

char.gy believes the use of existing lamp columns will allow charging infrastructure to be deployed efficiently while minimising disruption to local communities. The company says the approach offers a practical solution for neighbourhoods where traditional charging installations would be more challenging.

John Lewis

John Lewis, CEO of char.gy, said 

“This investment will make a real difference to people across West Northamptonshire who don’t have driveways or home chargers. By using lamp columns on residential streets, the Council is bringing charging closer to where people live, without major disruption to neighbourhoods.

We’re proud to be working with West Northamptonshire Council to deliver a reliable and affordable on-street charging network that supports local residents and helps make switching to an electric vehicle a practical option for everyone.”

West Northamptonshire Council said the programme represents a major investment in the area’s transport infrastructure and long-term sustainability ambitions.

Nigel Stansfield

Cllr Nigel Stansfield, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste at West Northamptonshire Council, said “This is a transformative investment in our area’s future. By delivering thousands of accessible, convenient and fairly priced on-street charging points, we are making it easier for residents to choose cleaner travel and invest in electric vehicles if they choose to.

 Working with Char.gy allows us to scale up quickly using existing infrastructure and ensure our communities are well-prepared for the increasing demand for electric vehicles. This is a major step toward a more sustainable West Northants, and I’m pleased to see this ambitious programme moving forward.”