The places where you can charge an electric car in Reading have been listed as more than 100 additional new charging point locations have been put forward.

There are currently 116 publicly usable electric vehicle (EV) charging points available in Reading, with plans for more as electric car use becomes more popular.

Therefore, Reading Borough Council is coming up with a strategy for EV availability in the future.

As part of a consultation in May, the council asked for the public to recommend new EV charging points. It received 152 suggestions for locations.

Reading Chronicle: The 152 requests for new electric vehicle charging points (ECVPs) in Reading. Credit: Reading Borough CouncilThe 152 requests for new electric vehicle charging points (ECVPs) in Reading. Credit: Reading Borough Council

As for existing locations, there is currently a mix of on-street and off-street EV charging points in the town.

Reading Borough Council has partnered with EV charging company Joju to provide on-street charging at the following locations:

  • St Bartholomews Road x 2
  • Manchester Road x2
  • Coventry Road x3
  • Filey Road x1
  • Caversham Road x2
  • Wantage Road x3
  • Anstey Road x1
  • East Street x1

You can access these points using the Joju app on the Apple app store and Google Play.

There are also fast 22kW charge points operated by Mer available at:

  • Chester Street Car Park
  • Thames Promenade Car Park
  • Kensington Road Car Park

You can access these chargers from the Mer app on the Apple app store, Google Play and on the Mer website.

As well as these points provided through arrangements with the council, petrol station operators are beginning to introduce EV charging points.

There is a Shell Recharge Charging Station at the Shell fuel station in  Basingstoke Road, and EV charging at the BP at Shepherds Hill in Woodley.

Additionally, the Motor Fuel Group,  is currently introducing EV charging points at fuel stations it runs in Reading.

The company has won approval to add five EV charging points to its BP station in Henley Road (planning application 221842) and has also applied to install eight EV charging points at the Shell station in George Street (application 230603), with both being located in Caversham.

As electric car usage increases in Reading, the council has launched a consultation on its draft Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVCI) Strategy.

The aim of the strategy is to “accelerate the transition to Electric Vehicles for necessary travel in Reading in the context of wider Local Transport Plan aspirations to reduce the need to travel, reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and promote sustainable and active travel.”

This is supported by five objectives laid out by the council:

  1. To develop a Reading-wide approach to facilitate and encourage the growth in use of electric and zero emission vehicles by Reading’s residents, businesses, and visitors.
  2.  Increase public EV charging points and improve charging infrastructure in line with requirement projections by developing and implementing a policy for appropriate, equitable and disability-aware accessible provision across the borough.
  3.  Seek to provide a renewable energy source for charging points on Council land or highway by 2030.
  4. Respond flexibly to fast-paced and changing technologies within the EV sector.
  5. The Council will lead by example by using EVs as much as possible to further reduce the environmental impact of its day-to-day operations.

The council’s consultation on its EVCI, Strategy began on Monday, August 8 and runs until Monday, September 18.

You can view the draft strategy and respond to the consultation here: https://consult.reading.gov.uk/dens/evcistrategy