Amey has been appointed by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to expand and maintain the city-region’s publicly owned electric vehicle (EV) charging network. The agreement aims to make Greater Manchester truly EV-friendly and supports its air quality and carbon reduction targets.
The development of the EV charging network, under Amey’s new Be.EV brand, is part of the city-region’s 2040 Transport Strategy which sets out a vision for a world-class, integrated and sustainable transport system.
The first phase of work is the upgrade of the existing Greater Manchester Electric Vehicle (GMEV) network infrastructure of almost 120 fast* chargers and the installation of 24 new rapid** chargers.
The new Be.EV charging network, when installed and fully operational, will move from a ‘free-as-you-charge’ to a ‘pay-as-you-charge’ system. It will also use renewable electricity***.
GMEV members have benefited from free electric charging – which was originally intended as an introductory offer – for more than six years. But the introduction of charging fees is now needed to cover costs and balance the impact on public budgets. Moving to a ‘pay-as-you-charge’ system will ensure a sustainable, reliable network and enable increased investment in Greater Manchester’s EV charging infrastructure.
The Be.EV network will span all 10 councils in Greater Manchester, serving 2.8 million people in one of the UK’s most vibrant and successful city-regions. A key part of Amey’s offer is to base its operations in Manchester, drive local employment opportunities and support small businesses and social enterprises through delivering world-class EV infrastructure.
John Faulkner, Group Strategy and Development director of Amey, said: “Amey is keen to work with TfGM to roll out green infrastructure across the region. Our aim is to enable Greater Manchester to develop into one of the largest and greenest regional economies in Europe. We have put together a consortium with transport technology provider SWARCO and renewable electricity supplier Octopus Energy that delivers technical expertise and a sustainable model for TfGM.
“Innovation and sustainability are at the core of our service as well as tangible social value investment. We want to work in collaboration with local businesses, particularly SMEs and social enterprises.”
Simon Warburton, TfGM Transport Strategy Director, said: “The modernisation and expansion of Greater Manchester’s publicly owned EV charging network is another step in realising our vision for clean, green, sustainable transport across our region.
“It will support Greater Manchester’s vision to ‘build back better’ as we work to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and is an important step in helping to make our city-region one of the best places in the world in which to live and work.”
Engaging the public, businesses and large fleet owners in developing the network, combined with intelligently located charge points, is designed to create the conditions for mass uptake of EVs across Greater Manchester.
For more information on the new Greater Manchester electric vehicle network, visit gmev.co.uk.