Devon County Council and Torbay Council have partnered with EV charge point operator (CPO) Believ to deliver more than 1,300 fully funded EV chargers across the region. The rollout is designed to serve residents without access to a driveway or the means to privately charge their vehicle.
The project was developed through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme but will be fully funded by Believ. Virgin Media O2, Believ’s sister company and delivery partner, will help facilitate the rollout at scale and pace.
The charge points will be Standard chargers designed for long-stay and overnight charging. They will be installed in a wide range of locations, including rural and underserved areas making EV charging infrastructure more accessible for all residents and visitors.
All charge points will feature contactless payment to ensure ease and convenience and will be PAS1899:2022 compliant, where possible, to support the building of an inclusive EV charging infrastructure. Believ chargers can be found using the Zapmap app, where live status and availability information is shared 24 hours a day. Payment can also be made directly in the app or with the Zapmap charging card.
The project, which is set to commence at the end of September, supports the Council’s aims to encourage low-emission travel, boost air quality, and cut carbon emissions ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicle sales.
Guy Bartlett, CEO at Believ, said:
“We’re proud to be supporting Devon and Torbay in building a robust and accessible EV charging network to encourage further EV uptake in the area. The South West is an important region to increase charging infrastructure, and this partnership will offer betterment to the local area for residents and the high volume of visitors that Devon and Torbay see every year.”
Councillor Jaqui Hodgson, Devon County Council’s Cabinet member for Environment and Biodiversity, said:
“In the tender process, Believ demonstrated clear delivery processes and an understanding of how to mitigate possible grid connection complications to deliver an efficient and scalable rollout in our community. Its expertise in planning support is reinforced by an ability to install all charging speeds – ensuring the right chargers are installed at the right locations.”
