Taxi and public rapid-charging network in West Yorkshire live

West Yorkshire’s largest electric vehicle rapid-charging network has gone live with the switch-on of the first chargepoint in Bradford.

The chargepoint in Vicar Lane is the first of 88 being installed across West Yorkshire and new locations will be added every week until the network is completed later this year.

Each of the new sites, which are free to use until the end of October 2021, will have two bays; one will be exclusively for taxis and private hire vehicles and the second is for all other users. The rapid chargepoints can typically take under an hour to provide a full vehicle charge depending on your vehicle.

People can register to use the network online at ev.engie.co.uk where they can also locate their nearest West Yorkshire chargepoint and find updates on the opening of new chargepoints.

The scheme is a collaboration between West Yorkshire Combined Authority and its partner local authorities - Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield councils.  Following its successful bid for £2 million funding from the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), West Yorkshire Combined Authority appointed Leeds-based ENGIE to install, own and operate the new charging points.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the partnering local authorities are also providing a further £1.2 million of match funding for the scheme.