"Charge while you shop" as new electric car stations installed across Sheffield

The 18 ‘rapid electric vehicle chargers’ are located close to supermarkets, the city centre and hospitals, so people who do not have their own driveways could recharge them on the go.

Nine of the chargers can be used by taxis only, and Sheffield Council chiefs say the network will help to cut traffic pollution, with air quality a major problem in the city.

Julie Grocutt, cabinet member for transport and planning, said: “We’re improving Sheffield’s electric car charging network to make it easy for people to make the switch to electric vehicles which is one of the best things we can do to reduce harmful pollution from transport – making the air we all breathe cleaner.

“We know not everyone has access to off-street parking, so not everyone can charge their car up at home.

"However, rapid charging means you can fill your car up while you nip to the market, or to the shops.”

The chargers have been installed through a successful bid from Sheffield City Council to the Joint Air Quality Unit Early Measures Fund and the Ultra Low Emission Taxi Infrastructure Scheme from the Office of Low Emission Vehicles.

They will cost 30p per kilowatt hour for an hour of charging, which the council says will charge most electric vehicles to 80 per cent. After that it will cost £10 per hour to encourage freeing up spaces, but there will be no parking charges in addition for using the space.

The locations for the public are at Clarence Lane, by Waitrose, on Prince of Wales Road, Manor, Carvers Lane car park next to Sheffield City Hall and Parkers’ Lane Car Park off Whitham Road, near the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. Four chargers will be installed at Eldon Street in spring, with nine more to come by summer.

The chargers are being installed and managed by Franklin Energy.

"This will help to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles and e-taxis across the region”, said Robert Byrne, managing director.

In 2020, one in every six vehicles sold was fully electric, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Each 50kW charger can charge at 50kW DC or 22kW AC.

Each charger will be fitted with Type 2, CCS and CHAdeMO DC Connectors, accommodating for most electric vehicle models on the market.

Payment is through Franklin Energy’s app, LiFe EV or by contactless card payment. By using the LiFe EV App and RFID card, drivers will have access to Franklin Energy’s national network of charge points across the UK known as the LiFe Network.