Around 2,600 new charging points coming to residential streets across the borough
At least 9 in 10 households without a driveway will be within 100 metres of a charger
Part of Reading's wider push for cleaner air, greener streets and better public health
If you've been thinking about going electric but don't have a driveway, help is on the way. Reading Borough Council has partnered with charge point provider char.gy to bring around 2,600 public EV charging points to residential streets across Reading, making it easier than ever for local people to make the switch to an electric vehicle, even without off-street parking.
Why this matters for Reading
Nearly half of Reading households don't have a driveway or private parking, and that's been one of the biggest practical barriers stopping people from considering an electric car. This scheme is designed to change that.
Under the new 15-year partnership, charge points will be rolled out across the borough, prioritising residential areas where parking is on-street. The goal: at least 90% of households without a driveway will be within 100 metres of a public charger.
The first charge points will begin appearing in the coming months, with around 1,500 in place within two years. Most will be fitted to existing lamp columns to keep disruption minimal, with standalone units where space allows.
Cleaner air for everyone
The scheme connects to something bigger. Transport accounts for around 26% of carbon emissions in Reading, and improving air quality is a core priority in the Council's climate strategy.
More EVs on the road means fewer polluting exhausts, something that benefits every resident, whether they drive or not. This project sits alongside other steps the Council is taking toward a greener Reading: a £9 million investment in 49 new electric buses is helping to make public transport cleaner, while ongoing work to encourage cycling and walking is giving people more ways to get around without a car at all.
Reading Borough Council secured £866,000 from the government's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund to make the scheme happen, at no direct cost to residents.
Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:
This scheme aims to speed up the transition to electric vehicles by giving households across Reading access to around 2,600 public charging points. Almost half of households in the borough do not have driveways or off-street parking which is a significant barrier to people choosing EVs.
We will be prioritising high-density residential areas without access to off-street parking for the installation of public charging points to clear the way for more people to make the switch to electric.
Transport is responsible for around 26% of carbon emissions in Reading. Alongside the Council’s work to increase active travel and the use of public transport, boosted by £9m government funding for 49 new electric buses, this scheme will help improve our local environment, air quality and the health of Reading residents.
John Lewis, CEO of char.gy, said:
Today's announcement is a big milestone for both char.gy and Reading Borough Council. Together, we'll deliver thousands of public charge points designed around the way people in Reading actually live, park and travel. Our goal is to create a network that's reliable, accessible and fair, giving more people the confidence to make the switch to electric vehicles.
We're proud to support Reading's wider sustainability ambitions, helping to accelerate the transition to cleaner transport and better air quality for local communities.
More ways to charge
A separate scheme, also funded by the government, is set to launch soon. A further £202,000 has been awarded to help around 400 households install pavement channels, a discreet cable channel built into the pavement, so residents can safely run a charging cable from their home to a car parked outside.