In a boost for North Devon EV drivers and holidaymakers, Osprey has partnered with the local council to more than double car-charging sites in the council area.
Three new and super-fast EV rapid chargers have just been energised in Belle Meadow car park in the heart of Devon, the company said. North Devon is set for 15 electric vehicle charging stations, up from seven, bringing rapid charging to residents, businesses, and the six million tourists who visit the district each year.
Belle Meadow car park is up and running with three super-fast chargers, each offering 100 miles of charge in 25 minutes (with compatible EVs). This will be followed by charging stations at Ilfracombe, Lynton, South Molton and Barnstaple, which will transform the charging landscape in this largely rural area, Osprey said.
Explaining the need for more public charges, the company said access to charging is one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption. There are concerns that more rural areas where charge points are traditionally less common, such as North Devon, risk being left behind in the EV transition if there is not visible reassurance of ample public charging.
“No region should be left behind in the transition to cleaner transport,” said Patrick Sherriff, Property Director of Osprey Charging. “North Devon have made a choice to future-proof their communities and protect the environment, with a safe, reliable, accessible rapid charging service. Osprey’s investment in high-power charging stations in Devon makes choosing an electric vehicle possible not only for the millions of seasonal visitors to the area, but crucially to the local residents and businesses who might otherwise be nervous of making the transition.”
As EV uptake increases across the country ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles, more and more of these visitors will require EV charging to complete their journeys and continue to visit, the company said.
“We are firmly committed to encouraging cleaner transport across the district; cherishing and protecting our environment is one of the council's corporate priorities,” said Lead Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at North Devon Council, Councillor Malcolm Prowse.