Government is set to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035. These vehicle exhaust emissions are harmful to the environment and health. They contribute to climate breakdown and worsen breathing conditions such as asthma.
We have developed our Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy (PDF, 7MB) to meet demand as more electric vehicles are used.
We are installing Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points to allow residents and visitors to conveniently charge their vehicles. An extensive and reliable network of EV charging points will allow more people to make the change to electric vehicles and reduce harmful emissions.
Latest Updates
Cross Pavement Charging:
'North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has secured £1.2 million from the Cross Pavement Charging Fund to help over 1,000 households access affordable home charging options. This will allow EV owners to charge at residential electricity rates, which are significantly cheaper than public charging tariffs, helping more residents make the transition to EV and save money at the same time. Application criteria and conditions will be dependent on the relevant local authority, and not all off-street properties will be suitable for this funding.'
We are currently developing a pilot scheme offering cross-pavement charging and will be accepting applications from residents once the scheme is ready to be launched. This is expected to be later this year and we will provide further updates nearer the time.
Charging Locations
Our charging points are managed by EV Smart. You will need to download the EV Smart app from the App Store or Google Play to use them. In the app, you can:
- view charging points
- sign up for an account
- view charger operating instructions
- report problems
Landowners and businesses are also installing EV charging points for the public to use outside of places like:
- supermarkets
- retail parks
- office buildings
Various operators will manage these. You can find details of EV charging points at zap-map.com. This includes:
- location
- operator
- connection type
- cost
Charging at Home
You can usually install a charger at home without planning permission, if you have off-street parking like a garage or driveway. It must meet specific criteria. Before you install an EV charging point, you will need to check your driveway is at least 5 metres long. This is so no part of the vehicle overhangs the pavement or road. You can read more about driveway requirements and how to apply for a vehicle crossing.
You cannot install a charging point at your home if you do not have off-street parking.
Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding will help us install shared charging points in residential areas. These are for homes that are unable to have their own charging point, for example, homes without off-street parking.
Community Charger Sharing
If you own an electric vehicle and do not have a home charger, you can use a Community Charger Sharing app to find nearby chargers. Many people only need to charge their vehicle once or twice per week. When they are not using their charging point, they can share it with other EV drivers.
You can access shared chargers using a community charger sharing app such as:
More Information
You can find out more about the benefits of electric vehicles on the Energy Savings Trust website.
You can learn out about government grants and the plug-in vehicle scheme on the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles website.
If you have any questions about EV charging, you can contact us by email at ev.charging@newcastle.gov.uk.