160 new electric-vehicle (EV) chargers will be installed in Brent, following a landmark agreement with Uber.

This investment will improve charger access for those without driveways and boost London’s overall charging network by over seven per cent.

This is the first time that boroughs including Brent, Newham and Redbridge have worked with a ride-hailing company to install chargers on London’s streets. Uber is investing five million pounds in the scheme, and the chargers will be available for everyone to use.

Uber and Brent have worked closely to determine where chargers should be installed. These on-street charging points will improve access for those without driveways or home chargers.

By incentivising a broader shift to EV, Brent Council aims to help tackle air pollution for all residents and share learnings with other local authorities on how private companies and the public sector can collaborate to address this challenge. 

Cllr Krupa Sheth, cabinet member for Environment at Brent Council said,

 “We are very excited to be embarking on this partnership with Uber that will help increase the number of EV charging points even further in Brent. These charging points will provide greater accessibility for residents who do not have off-street parking, thus helping us promote the use of zero-emission vehicles. This partnership is part of several initiatives on our journey to achieve zero carbon emissions in Brent by 2030.”

Jamie Heywood, Uber general manager for Northern and Eastern Europe added,

“Drivers often tell me that being able to access reliable charging near their homes is critical to their decision to switch to an electric vehicle. By targeting investment where it is most needed, we are confident that thousands more drivers will make the switch to electric, allowing them to benefit from lower running costs and higher earnings on Uber. Ensuring that everyone can access EV charging will spark a mass transition to electric vehicles and help drive London towards a greener future”

Professional ride-hailing drivers are early adopters of EVs, with more than 90 per cent of new vehicles joining the Uber app being fully electric, compared to 11.6 per cent of new vehicles in the mass market in 2021. 

 

© London West (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).

Sign up to receive your free bi-weekly London West journal here