Oxfordshire is set to receive a significant boost to its electric vehicle charging network following approval of eleven new on-street charging locations across the county.
The sites, located in Berinsfield, Burford, Henley-on-Thames, Kidlington, and Oxford, form part of a £4 million initiative funded by central government and managed by Oxfordshire County Council.
The scheme targets the installation of more than 1,500 public charging points by the summer of 2028, with the goal of making electric vehicle ownership more accessible throughout the region.
Gareth Epps, who serves as the cabinet member responsible for transport at Oxfordshire County Council, described the approval of these initial locations as a significant milestone in expanding access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the county.
He noted that further work remains necessary before certain locations can proceed, emphasizing the importance of balancing the needs of residents without electric vehicles who require parking access and essential services with the provision of public charging facilities designed to encourage adoption of electric vehicles.
The county councillor highlighted that dependable public charging infrastructure is vital for building confidence among prospective electric vehicle owners.
This consideration proves particularly significant for households lacking private driveways and for rural and underserved communities, ensuring inclusive access to charging facilities.
Several proposed locations, including sites in Oxford, Shrivenham, Witney, and Bampton, have been postponed to allow for additional consultation and site evaluation.
Upon completion, the initiative will increase the existing count of public electric vehicle chargers in Oxfordshire by more than double, positioning the county ahead of the United Kingdom’s 2030 prohibition on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles.
The Oxfordshire electric vehicle infrastructure programme addresses four principal areas: charging points in council-operated car parks, on-street charging facilities, cable channels for residential properties, and microhubs at community venues.
The programme specifically targets the thirty percent of Oxfordshire residents who lack off-street parking facilities.
A public consultation conducted between July 8 and August 7 regarding the first eighteen proposed sites attracted more than seven hundred responses.
Council officials considered feedback concerning parking provision, pedestrian footway space, and equipment aesthetics within conservation zones.
Standard on-street charging units will predominantly feature a power output of 7.4 kilowatts, enabling overnight charging at reduced electricity rates.
A limited selection of rapid charging units exceeding fifty kilowatts will also be installed where electrical supply infrastructure permits.
Additional locations remain under assessment to verify they satisfy technical, design, and electrical criteria.
In Oxford specifically, charging facilities were approved for installation at Binsey Lane, Cowley Road, Hamilton Road, and the Whitehouse Road and Salter Close area.
Other Oxford locations, including Hockmore Street, Water Eaton Road, and Cuddesdon Way, received approval contingent upon confirmation that a minimum of 1.5 metres of footway clearance will be maintained following installation.
Bicester-based business EZ-Charge has been contracted to install and manage charging hubs situated in city and district council car parks.
Connected Kerb, another partner organisation, will handle the installation and operation of on-street charging equipment.