On-street electric vehicle charging points pilot

An electric vehicle charging pilot has been launched to help Wigan Borough residents without driveways connect to the electric vehicle charging network from their homes.

A key aspect of Wigan Council’s transport and environmental plans has been to encourage people to switch to electric vehicles and expand the charging network across the borough.

Whilst there has been progress in the installation of off-road car park charging points, a pilot project with Trojan Energy is now helping to expand the on-street network for those households without driveways.

Councillor Paul Prescott, portfolio holder for Planning, Environmental Services and Transport, said: “The Trojan Home project is an exciting opportunity to enable more of our residents to make the switch to electric vehicles, particularly for those who previously had limited access to charging points.

“The council is well aware of the challenges we will face addressing the impacts of climate change and achieving carbon net-zero, so pilot schemes like these can help us to understand more ways how we can support residents, reduce carbon emissions, and improve air quality.”

With up to 50 households eligible to join this trial on a first-come, first-served basis, this innovative solution enables residents to charge an electric car directly from their home energy supply.

The project aims to make electric charging much more accessible and affordable, with a flat and flush charging point installed on the pavement outside a property by Trojan Energy.

The Trojan Home scheme is designed so that households can also host other residents’ vehicles on a pay-as-you-go basis, with full reimbursement for any third-party usage.

With the free installation of a Trojan Home charging point outside their property, the fixed subscription price for trial participants is £50 per month for 36 months, which includes equipment upgrades, maintenance costs, insurance, and 24/7 support from Trojan Energy.

The performance and usage the charging points will be closely monitored throughout the 18-month trial, with the potential for a wider roll out of Trojan Home if the trial proves successful.

The pilot is in addition to approximately £2.5m that Wigan Council has been allocated from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to boost the public electric vehicle charging infrastructure network.

Ian Mackenzie, CEO of Trojan Energy, added: “Trojan Home is all about levelling the playing field. It gives electric vehicle drivers who park on-street the freedom to charge at home rates, right outside their front door, without compromising the look or feel of their street.

“We’re proud to be working with Wigan Council to make electric vehicle charging fairer and more practical for everyone.”

If you’re interested in joining the pilot, visit Trojan Energy (external link).