Council approves ambitious strategy to make transition to EVs easier, supporting wider goals to reduce pollution and CO2.
Bristol City Council has set out how, over the next decade, it will deliver a well-distributed, accessible and reliable public charging network for electric vehicles (EVs).
Photo by Sophie Jonas / Unsplash
Among the objectives are to ensure a consistent, reliable and fair user experiences for those charging EVs, while delivering a commercially sustainable network of charge points to harness and reinvest private investment.
The strategy also lays out plans to future-proof the network, prioritise residents who lack off-street parking, and continue investment in alternatives to private car use. The plans are detailed in the newly published Bristol Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVI) Strategy 2026-2036.
One focus is to increase the number of charge points at key destinations across the city, in such places as supermarkets, leisure centres and popular visitor locations. That way, drivers can top up their EVs while shopping, exercising or enjoying local attractions, with charging integrated into daily activities.
Accessibility is also an important element of the new strategy. Charge points will be located so as to keep pavements clear and safe, ensuring that the shift to electric transport benefits everyone. The sites chosen for new charge points will also prioritise disadvantaged communities to ensure that access is fair.
What’s more, the strategy commits to increasing the availability of faster charging options, giving drivers more choice. The strategy also aligns with wider efforts to improve air quality and cut emissions, and impending national targets for the production of EVs through the Zero Emission Vehicles Mandate. Under this mandate, by 2027 38% of cars sold in the UK must be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs); that rises to 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2035.
To deliver on the strategy, the council will work closely with partners such as Bristol City Leap, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and private charge point operators. Together, they will aim to secure the needed new investment and technical expertise.
The council estimates that there will be some 15,000 EVs in Bristol in 2027, 40,000 in 2030 and 120,000 in 2036, accounting for over 50% of total registered vehicles in the city. Bristol currently boasts some 200 charge points. It is estimated that a further 600 will be needed to by 2027 to meet expected demand.
Martin Fodor, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Policy Committee at Bristol City Council, says: ‘Improving Bristol’s electric vehicle charging network is just one of the measures as part of our wider work to support cleaner air and reduce air pollution. Electric vehicles produce no exhaust emissions, so giving people the confidence that they can charge easily and reliably will help us cut the pollution that harms our health.
‘Expanding our charging facilities also supports our ambition to become a carbon‑neutral city by 2030, building on the progress already made through the Clean Air Zone and our wider clean transport plans. This strategy is about creating a strong, accessible and future‑proof network that enables more people to make the switch and contribute to a cleaner, healthier Bristol for everyone.’
Cllr Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Policy Committee, adds: ‘We know that not everyone in Bristol has access to a driveway or private parking, especially in older terraced streets and denser neighbourhoods, so it’s essential that public charging becomes much easier and more convenient. This strategy sets out how we will expand on‑street residential charging and introduce new community charging hubs in places people use every day – like neighbourhood centres, council car parks and local amenities. Some of this work has begun with the introduction of lamppost charging points and recent approval of a cross-pavement approach to charging vehicles for people without driveways.
‘With electric vehicles becoming more affordable and more popular, we need to plan ahead so that our infrastructure keeps up with demand. Our goal is simple: to make switching to an electric vehicle a realistic, practical option for many more residents.’
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