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Electric vehicle charging points


Working in partnership with Kent County Council, we have installed several charging points in Tunbridge Wells. Each point can charge up two cars at the same time.

Contents

Locations

The charging points are located in marked bays.

Car parks

  • Great Hall Car Park - level 3 (since 2015)
  • Crescent Road Car Park - level 1 (since 2015)
  • Yew Tree Road - rear of car park (since 2019)
  • Commercial Road East Car Park (coming soon - read more)
To use these fast chargers you will need to be registered with Charge Your Car (CYC) and use cables compatible with a 7kW fast charger, there are no cables provided on site.

Normal 'parking charges' and maximum 'length of stay' will apply as set out in the individual car parks. You are advised to check these requirements prior to parking and charging.

On-street

  • Mount Pleasant Road - near the train station due to go live at the end of June 2021 (a rapid charger with one space for Taxi and private hire vehicles only with the other space useable by all EV drivers)

The charger at Mount Pleasant Rd. will be 'pay-as-you-go', or via Swarco E.Connect.

Please direct any queries or questions regarding this charge point to electricvehicles@kent.gov.uk

These bays are subject to a 1-hour time parking limit with no return within two hours and are currently free for parking.

Further information on additional public charging points in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells is available on Zap-Map.

Zap-Map also provides information on electric vehicles, how to charge your EV and much more.

Peer-to-Peer EV charging networks

Whilst the Council cannot endorse this provision, opportunities exist for EV owners to make use of private charge points via such platforms as peer-to-peer EV charging networks – Zap-Home and Zap-Work, or for example Bookmycharge. These are designed to allow charge point owners to share their devices with other EV drivers.

Some general information about peer to peer charging can be found on the Spirit Energy website.

However, we recommend you review all available information on this type of charging and if appropriate for you, make your own suitable arrangements.

Electric vehicles

Switching to an electric vehicle can be a great way to reduce your environmental impact and could save you money!

Together with Electrifying.com, the Department for Transport has produced a Beginners’ Guide to Going Electric, to help drivers understand what’s involved in switching to an electric car.

However, while we welcome efforts to decarbonise the transport sector, switching to an electric vehicle, without also reducing our car use will not be enough. Swapping to an electric vehicle is only part of the solution and will provide access to a cleaner car as and when needed. We also encourage more walking and cycling, use of sustainable public transport and car sharing using Car Clubs and sharing journeys as appropriate.

Placing new chargers

We are currently working with other Kent local authorities and Kent County Council (KCC) to review opportunities to place more charging points in our car parks.

Further information on electric vehicle charging can be found on the KCC website and the Energy Saving Trust website.

You cannot place your own charger on public roads, or run charging cables across paths, as this is dangerous for pedestrians.

Guidance for planning applicants

The council has developed the following guidance note for planning applicants.

This document is referenced in the emerging draft Local Plan and details the expectations of the local planning authority for various types of development.