Monday 5 October 2020
Manchester partnership unveils its first EV chargers
Seven new GeniePoint Network chargers – a mix of 22kW and 7kW sockets - have been installed at the Council’s Hooper Street depot in Ardwick and will provide charging facilities for the expanding fleet of electric-powered vehicles used to provide vital services around the city.
Over the coming months, ENGIE will install a further 33 chargers at council premises on Longley Lane, Sharston, and Hammerstone Road in Gorton, which will also be used by electric refuse collection vehicles.
The installation of the chargers forms part of the Council's action plan to make Manchester zero carbon by 2038 in response to the climate emergency.
Martin Smithurst, Chief Operating Officer at ENGIE, said: “Manchester Council has set an initial target of reducing its direct carbon emissions by 50% by 2025 and - with our expertise in helping local authorities across the UK on the journey to ‘making zero carbon happen’, and our longstanding relationship with Manchester Council - ENGIE is perfectly placed to play a part in helping them achieve this ambition.
“The benefits of transitioning to electric vehicles are well-documented, but it’s vital that the right infrastructure is in place to support the change, which is why projects like this are so critical.”
Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for the Environment, Planning and Transport, Councillor Angeliki Stogia, said: "Manchester has been bold in setting out its vision to become a zero-carbon city by 2038. This is a challenging target, but we feel it is the right one, not only for our residents but for the long-term prosperity of the city and region.
“As part of our carbon reduction plan, we are upgrading our fleet of diesel refuse vehicles to electric replacements and are working with our contractors to support them to do the same. This is an ongoing programme and the installation of metered charging points at our Hooper Street depot is a key move to provide the infrastructure that will make it happen. We want to see more electric vehicles in the city and are already looking to install more charging points at other Manchester depots to support the move to greener fleets.
"As set out in our Climate Change Action Plan, the Council has committed to halving its emissions by 2025 and will continue to play an active role in the Manchester Climate Change Partnership, to address the urgent need to create a cleaner and greener Manchester."
The new chargers at the Hooper Street depot will be operated and managed by ENGIE’s GeniePoint Platform, providing council staff and visitors - as well as employees of ENGIE, Mitie and other organisations working on behalf of the Council - with reliable and easy to use charging facilities.
Last year, ENGIE was appointed by Manchester City Council to provide hard facilities management services to more than 400 council buildings in the city. It’s regeneration arm is also currently leading a variety of key construction projects across the city, including the recently completed Manchester Athletics Track, a new helipad at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s Oxford Road campus and a variety of new housing schemes on the outskirts of the city.
