A new multi-million pound project will see thousands of on-street electric vehicle chargepoints installed right across Dorset.

Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) Council have joined forces to deliver this ambitious county-wide programme, which will see over 3,000 on-street chargepoints installed in the next five years.

The £16.5 million scheme, delivered by Connected Kerb and funded entirely by the Department for Transport Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund and substantial private sector investment, will give current and future EV drivers more choice and convenience.

Providing lower cost on-street charging near people’s homes will help residents save time and money, while preparing Dorset for the phase out of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

Crucially, the rollout will make it easier for households without off-street parking to charge their electric cars and vans or make the switch to EV.

Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister, Keir Mather said: “We’re giving local people in Dorset the confidence they need to go electric with nearly £4 million to rollout 3,000 more public charge points across the county, so drivers can rest assured they’ll be able to charge up on the go.

“We know concerns about charge point access remains a barrier to people making the switch to an EV, which is why we announced an extra £600m last year to speed up the rollout of chargers and deliver 100,000 more in the coming years.”

Cllr Jon Andrews, Dorset Council’s Cabinet member for Place Services, said: “This is an important step towards not only a cleaner, healthier future for our community but also making the switch to EV easier for so many more people.

“By providing accessible charging, we’re supporting residents who already have electric cars and vans and making it more attractive to those who haven’t already switched.

“There’s only four years to go until new petrol and diesel cars will no longer be sold and we need to be prepared.”

And Cllr Andy Hadley, BCP Council’s Cabinet member for Climate and Transport, added: “By creating a county-wide charging network, we’re removing one of the biggest barriers to switching to electric vehicles – making it more convenient, accessible, and reliable for our residents.

“This rollout, fully funded by the government and private sector investment, is about making life easier for our communities while reinforcing Dorset and BCP’s position as a hub for green investment.

“Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council working in partnership with Dorset Council means this investment ensures consistency for users and helps shape a more sustainable future for everyone who lives in and visits our county.”

EVs are cheaper to run than fossil fuelled cars and vans, while helping cut emissions that account for around a third of Dorset’s carbon footprint.

One of the main barriers to switching is reliability and convenience of charging.

This programme will help bring chargepoints much closer to people’s doorsteps – valuable for people who live in flats or homes with no private space to have a chargepoint.

Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb added: “This project puts convenient, affordable EV charging where it’s needed most – on local streets and in everyday parking spaces – making it easier for more residents across BCP and Dorset to switch to electric. It’s a major step forward in building a cleaner, more accessible charging network for everyone.”

People who would like to find out more about chargepoints can go to Electric vehicle charge points in Dorset – Dorset Council  in Dorset – Dorset Council for Dorset Council area details and for the BCP area Electric vehicle charging locations and tariffs | BCP