Three thousand electric vehicle charging points to be introduced in Hackney by 2030

Hackney’s transport boss Cllr Mete Coban (right) with Mayor Philip Glanville. Photograph: Hackney Council

Hackney Council has taken a major step in the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the borough – with 3,000 set to be installed by 2030.

There are currently 303 council-owned charging points, and of the 42,000 registered vehicles in Hackney, just 2.7 per cent are plug-in electrics.

It is hoped that by 2030, around 20 per cent of all UK vehicles will be electric – but Hackney has set a much more ambitious target of 90 per cent take-up by the end of the decade.

Transport chief Cllr Mete Coban MBE said: “We are committed to doing all we can to provide the infrastructure and environment to help encourage people to make greener and more sustainable choices about how they travel across Hackney.

“This major rollout of EV charging points is just part of this. Transport accounts for 125 kilotonnes of CO2 emissions each year in Hackney – the second biggest borough contributor to climate change after domestic energy use.

“These new charging points will help reduce the concerns some people have about switching to an electric vehicle. In turn, this will benefit all of our residents as it will help enhance the borough’s air quality.”

One of the main concerns among residents considering a switch to an electric vehicle is a lack of charging points.

The council is aiming to have at least one charging point on each of the borough’s estates.

The charging stations will be powered in full by renewable energy, some of which will be generated locally.

The chargers are also expected to raise more than £9 million for the council, which is pushing for Hackney to become a net-zero carbon borough by 2040.

While EVs still contribute to particle matter pollution through tyre wear, they help to reduce emissions of gases like nitrogen dioxide.

Cllr Coban was clear, however, that EVs are not a fix-all.

“While encouraging more people to switch to an electric vehicle, if we are going to make Hackney an even better place to live and work, we also must continue looking at schemes to drive an overall reduction in vehicle ownership,” he said.

“This is where initiatives such as School Streets and low traffic neighbourhoods – supporting us all to walk, cycle and use public transport locally – play a key role.”