The county council is a partner in a bid for almost £1million in funding, as part of the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) pilot.
The partnership of five local authorities across the Midlands region have teamed up with transport body Midlands Connect to submit the LEVI bid.
If successful, the money - which totals £935,355 - will be distributed between Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Herefordshire, Rutland and Stoke-on-Trent councils.
It is projected this investment could unlock a further £2.8million from the private sector to install a total of 349 public electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the Midlands.
In Leicestershire, the funding will be used for up to 100 EV charging points across all seven districts.
The majority will be on-street chargers in residential areas, alongside some publicly available chargers situated in county council-owned car parks and other county council-owned sites, including libraries.
Last year, analysis by Midlands Connect found that Leicestershire needs 1,487 new public EV charging points by the end of 2025 to meet growing demand. It is hoped that this pilot could pave the way for a larger, region-wide installation scheme.
Estimates suggest that the installation and maintenance of electric vehicle charging points will create an influx of jobs in the region.
At present, 93 per cent of electric vehicle owners have access to off-road parking. It’s hoped that increasing the number of public charging stations will make it easier for those without a driveway to make the switch to electric, while also increasing the ease of travel and charging for all EV users.
Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect, said: “It’s clear that the electric vehicle revolution is well underway in Leicestershire – our projections suggest that by the end of the decade over one in four cars will be electric.
"It’s vital that we act now to install the infrastructure motorists need to travel conveniently and to accelerate the take up of EVs, especially in areas where on-street parking is the norm.
Local authorities are working hard to install public charge points, but it’s vital that we secure support from Government to make change happen faster and encourage further investment from the private sector.”
We’re a green council and we want to play our part in driving the EV revolution in Leicestershire. Research has shown people are making the EV switch now and this will accelerate once the ban on new petrol and diesel engines in 2030 kicks in. This investment will help residents make greener choices and crucially underpin public confidence in the EV market
Person:Nick Rushton, leader of Leicestershire County CouncilMr Rushton added: “Given the rural nature of our county, it’s essential we have a comprehensive network of public charging points so that motorists can travel without the worry of finding a place to power up, and residents without driveways know they can charge their vehicles close to home.
“We’re very hopeful that this bid will be successful so that we can install the vital infrastructure needed now.
“We’re determined to become cleaner and greener, and Leicestershire has ambitious plans in place to become net zero by 2045. A successful LEVI bid can only further emphasise our commitment to carbon reduction and shows effective action on climate change, as well as supporting the green economy.”
People can comment on our plans at www.leicestershire.gov.uk/netzero
If the bid is successful, suggested locations for the charging points will still be subject to consultation.