Taunton Free Electric Vehicle Charging Points

Tauton has been chosen for a pioneering DC Share project that will allow electric car owners to charge up in the town centre for free for a year.

16:00 02 August 2020

Electric operator Western Power Distribution (WPD) has confirmed a pioneering scheme that will see electric car owners in Taunton enjoy free charge up in the town centre for a whole year. Taunton was chosen for the project due to site suitability and proactive engagement of councils in the town. 

 

The scheme, which is the first in the United Kingdom, trials a technology that harnesses spare capacity in local substations to power EV chargers quickly at a lower cost for consumers. It will see the installation of five chargers that can recharge the average electric vehicle in around 30 minutes. 

 

Ricky Duke, WPD Innovation and low carbon network engineer, said: "Today's confirmation of Taunton as the DC Share project site is an important step to securing the massive savings and decarbonisation benefits that DC meshing technology could bring to the UK. 

 

"As we look beyond Covid-19 towards the UK's goal of Net Zero by 2050, innovative, low carbon technologies will be at the heart of the UK's green recovery. 

 

"Insights from DC Share will have a key role in helping us to build a stronger and cleaner UK economy. 

 

"DC Share is a win-win: this technology will allow us to rapidly decarbonise transport by making smarter use of existing infrastructure. 

 

"That means less carbon emissions, while reducing the need for expensive infrastructure and network reinforcements in constrained urban communities."