Property consultancy Avison young has been tasked by Be.EV with identifying 25 sites in Liverpool city region suitable for electric vehicles charging hubs. Tony McDonough reports
Electric car charging point specialist Be.EV is looking to build 25 charging hubs across Liverpool city region.
Be.EV has tasked properly consultancy Avison Young with identifying suitable sites for the hubs across Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens and Halton. It aims to have at least four hubs under development by the end of 2022.
Avison Young was previously appointed by Be.EV earlier this year to find sites across Greater Manchester, where Be.EV already operates the largest public charging network. It will now be consulting with public sector bodies, private landlords, developers and other commercial organisations to identify sites across Merseyside.
The North West currently has one of the UK’s lowest numbers of EV chargers per 100,000 of population. Many households do not have access to off-street parking – a significant barrier to EV uptake across the region. A rapid roll-out of public charging infrastructure is therefore key to driving EV adoption.
Asif Ghafoor, chief executive of Be.EV, said: “Merseyside is lacking the charging infrastructure it needs to embrace mass EV adoption and make the city region greener. I am pleased to be working with the AY team in my home city to develop destination charging and on-the-go hubs.
“Our hubs will not just help boost EV uptake, they will transform neighbourhoods by abandoning the concrete forecourt model in favour of pleasant, green spaces. We are going to develop a much-needed, concentrated network of charging infrastructure in the region.”
According to Avison Young’s Ten Trends for a Zero Carbon World report, EVs will act as a key part of the UK’s plan to reduce carbon emissions in urban environments where public transport infrastructure is lacking and driving remains a crucial part of daily life for many.
Jonathan Lowe, director at Avison Young in Liverpool, added: “A widespread adoption of electric vehicles is a vital part of the UK’s efforts to achieving its carbon-neutral target in 2028 and our extended partnership with Be.EV aims to make owning an electric vehicle a much more feasible option.
“We are currently seeking potential charging sites that will provide landowners and developers with a new and exciting revenue-generating opportunity and we would urge anybody who would like to find out more about Be.EV to get in touch with one of the team.”