Chargepoint operator Believ will spend £90m installing 17,180 EV chargepoints across Hampshire, in a deal that will see the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund put in £6.6m – the largest contract signed to date with the government-backed fund.
The project will see thousands of 22kW chargers installed across the county, with the intention that these are used by drivers who do not have off-street parking, so cannot have their own home wallbox installed. Some 800 rapid (50kW+) chargers will also be added as part of the deal.
The Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund is a £400m pot of cash local councils can access to help boost the rollout of chargers, with Hampshire County Council channelling £6.6m from that into the project.
The vast majority of the installation and equipment cost of the 17,180 chargers will come from Believ, however. Last year the firm attracted £300m of investment, with the main backers being Liberty Group and Zouk Capital.
The project will begin in earnest later this year, with a target of 500 chargers for the first 12 months of its operation.
Guy Bartlett, chief executive of Believ, says: “This partnership with Hampshire County Council enables the largest EV charging programme delivered through the LEVI scheme to date. By combining public funding with significant private capital, we can move faster, reach more communities and make charging more accessible for residents all across Hampshire.”
Councillor Kirsty North from Hampshire County Council comments: “As more people look to switch to EVs, ensuring access to reliable, convenient charging is essential – particularly for those without off-street parking. This initiative demonstrates how local authorities can combine local knowledge and national funding with private sector investment to unlock delivery at scale, accelerate infrastructure rollout, and support the growth of the UK’s green economy.”
Separately, Beleiv has also announced it has been given the contract to install 200 EV chargepoints across 35 public car parks in Telford & Wrekin.
