Decision details

The report briefs the Executive on the Electric Vehicle Charge Points (EVCP) being installed at the new Fareham Live car park and to adopt a pricing strategy to be used to set the charging tariff offered to customers.

As part of the £20m investment by the Council into the regeneration of the town centre, Osborn Road multi-storey car park is currently being demolished and will be replaced by a new surface car park on the existing site.  The new car park will be called Fareham Live car park.  Four of the parking bays at the Fareham Live car park will be for electric vehicles only and will have Electric Vehicle Charge points (EVCP) installed.  In early 2024 the Council appointed Joju Charging to supply, install and operate the EVCPs.

The EVCPs use a back office system called Hubeleon. The Hubeleon system has an app which visitors can download to their device. Visitors can use the app to pay for using the chargers.  Other payment methods will be available and can be used instead of the app, such as contactless payment, fuel cards, zap maps etc.

As the Council owns the EVCPs being installed it can choose the charging tariff consumers receive.  Therefore, two pricing strategies have been put forward for consideration.  These are:

·         Cover direct costs only (consists of installation and future renewal capital costs, Operation and Maintenance contract costs, bank charges, electricity bill costs, and contribution to FBC overheads to manage the EV spaces;

·         Price at a 10% mark-up above direct costs.

Each strategy yields varying levels of revenue and can be found in Table 1 in the Executive Briefing Paper.

The Council has the opportunity to price at the bottom of the market average price whilst still covering its direct costs.  This strategy would help make the EVCPs at Fareham Live car park attractive to visitors and encourage significant use, supporting both the Fareham Live venue and the wider town centre.

The current Off-Street Parking Places (Amendment 8) Order ensures that only electric vehicles connected to a charge point can use the electric vehicle bays provided.

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  approves the introduction of an electric vehicle charging tariff for Fareham Live car park, which will be added to the Council's Fees and Charges listings;

(b)  agrees pricing strategy A) (as set out in the Executive Briefing Paper) to be used to set the charging tariff;

(c)  due to price volatility, agrees that delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning and Regeneration in consultation with the Section 151 Officer, to adjust the charging tariff in line with the agreed pricing strategy, if and when necessary; and

(d)  receives a further report which reviews the first 12 months of usage to inform whether further EV chargers are to be fully installed.