Additional Electric Vehicle (EV) charge-point locations are being installed across the county for use by residents and visitors to Ceredigion.

Ceredigion County Council has partnered with Silverstone Green Energy Limited as its Charge-point Operator and have begun to install EV charge-points in public Pay and Display off-street car parks in the county.

A significant growth in demand for public and private Electric Vehicle (EV) charge-points is forecast during the next ten years as the sales of EVs increase. Whilst the Council is doing its bit, a range of other public, private and community-based organisations must all play a part in meeting this growth in demand as the poor availability of charge-points is known to be a significant barrier to the take-up of EVs.

EV charge-points have been placed in central car parks to allow users to visit local businesses and attractions whilst charging their cars as well as for people with no private off-street overnight charging capability. The locations are:

Ceredigion County Council Offices, Penmorfa, Aberaeron, SA46 0PA
Regent Street Car Park, Aberaeron, SA46 0HZ
Ceredigion County Council Offices, Canolfan Rheidol, Aberystwyth, SY23 3UE
Lower Park Avenue / Boulevard St Brieuc Car Park, Aberystwyth, SY23 1PD
Greenfield Square Car Park, Cardigan, SA43 1LH
Leisure Centre, North Road, Cardigan, SA43 1HG
Rookery Car Park, Lampeter, SA48 7BU
Llandysul Car Park, Llandysul, SA44 4QU
Church Road Car Park, New Quay, SA45 9PB
Rock Street / Paragon Car Park, New Quay, SA45 9NR
Talbot Yard Car Park, Tregaron, SY25 6NF

The new charge-points form part of the Dragon Charging Network with further locations to follow when funding becomes available.

Most of the charge-points installed by the Council are ‘Fast’ charge-points that use a Type 2 charging cable and take 3 to 4 hours to charge depending on the type and number of vehicles plugged in. ‘Rapid’ charge-points are also being installed in some car parks including the public car parks at Cwmins, Lampeter and Greenfield Square, Cardigan. Information on how to use these charge-points is available on the Dragon Charging Network website, via the Dragon Charging App and at the charge-points themselves.

Councillor Keith Henson, Cabinet Member for Highways and Environmental Services and Carbon Management has welcomed the roll-out of public EV charging. He said: “This is a good step forward in helping reduce our carbon emissions, and ensuring our county continues to develop to support our businesses, residents and appeal to visitors. In support of the Council’s corporate Net Zero Carbon targets associated with transport and travel. I’m delighted that we have been successful in applying for further Welsh Government and UK Government funding to enable us to set up additional locations across the county.”

This development follows the adoption of the County Council’s Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) Strategy and Action Plan by the Council’s Cabinet in September 2022. The Council’s ULEV Steering Group continues to manage delivery of the EV charging project which supports implementation of the Council’s Corporate Plan 2022-2027 – particularly the ‘Creating Sustainable, Green and Well-connected Communities’ objective – as well as local delivery of the Welsh Government’s ‘Llwybr Newydd’ – The Wales Transport Strategy (2021).

Members of the public wishing to charge their EV in one of the Council’s off-street car parks are reminded that they must always park safely and responsibly, within the designated bays and remember to remove their vehicle once charging is complete so that others may then use the charge-point. To avoid a Penalty Charge Notice, anyone parking in a public car park and using one of the designated EV charging bays must pay the advertised fee for parking in that car park during the hours in which these fees apply.

Anyone seeking further information or encountering problems when using the EV charge-points can contact the Silverstone Green Energy Customer Helpline on 01834 474480 or if less urgent, by e-mailing [email protected].