Electric vehicles in Barnet

Our commitment to improving Barnet

Barnet Council has made a commitment of being a net zero carbon organisation by 2030, and for Barnet to be net zero by 2042 at the latest. It is committed to improving air quality across the borough through the Long Term Transport Strategy 2020 - 2041 and Sustainability Action Plan. Find out more about how we can all do our bit to look after the planet - with your help, Barnet will become a net zero carbon borough by 2042.

A key part of this will be reducing and mitigating the impact of transport emissions in Barnet by encouraging the use of electric vehicles. To achieve this, we are committed to the rollout of electric charge points across the borough.

Benefits of electric vehicles (EVs)

Electric vehicles do not produce exhaust emissions. Transitioning to an electric vehicle is therefore a good way of combatting climate change, and reducing air and noise pollution. Electric vehicles can offer reduced costs as they are cheaper to run per mile than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles.

Other benefits currently include:

exemption from the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and congestion charge
you don't pay Vehicle Excise Duty
reduced resident parking permit price in Barnet

As we transition to a low carbon society, electric vehicles are becoming an important mode of transport alongside cycling, walking and public transportation. The distance that electric vehicles can travel is increasing due to improvements in battery technology.

We recognise that electric vehicles on their own will not solve all the problems relating to motor travel, but they are significantly better than petrol and diesel cars. Electric vehicles do still produce some harmful pollution from brake and tyre wear.

Alongside encouraging the uptake of electric vehicles, we have a policy of reducing car usage by encouraging public transport and creating environments that make it easier to walk and cycle.

Charge points in Barnet

Barnet will soon have over 2000 charge points across the borough, which is one of the largest networks in the country. We are working with a number of charge point operators to ensure that a comprehensive network of charge points is rolled out across the borough. Our Integrated Transport Strategy and Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy will outline the council’s proposed rollout of charge points, and the importance of providing a range of solutions that are suitable for all locations.

Lamp Column charge points

We are expanding our network of charge points attached to lamp columns at various locations across the borough. These facilities enable residents who do not have off street parking to charge their vehicle close to home. Due to the lower charging speeds, lamp column charge points are ideally suited for overnight charging.

Lamp column charge points in Barnet are operated by:

Trojan Energy charge points

Barnet has also installed charge points in residential streets where lamp column charge points are not appropriate, such as where they are not located kerbside.

These charge points offer a low clutter solution as they are not visible when not in use and require the use of a lance in order to charge. These charge points are capable of charging speeds of up to 22kW, and due to the number being installed in each location, they do not require bays to be dedicated as ‘EV Only’ or any other change in the existing parking restrictions.

For more information on the Trojan Energy charge points, visit the Trojan hub.

Jolt charge points

Barnet are in the process of installing Jolt charge points within town centre locations. These provide a combined charging unit and digital advertising display that provides fast 25kW DC charging.

Users will also benefit from up to 15 minutes of free charging per day.

Car park charge points

PodPoint operates a network of electric vehicle charge points across Barnet car parks. The network has charge speeds of 7kW, and provides an easy and convenient means of charging for electric vehicle owners when visiting our town centres.

When charging an electric vehicle, the driver will not have to pay for parking within the car park.

Rapid charge points

These are larger than traditional charge points and are capable of charging an electric vehicle at powers of up to 50kW to deliver an 80% charge in under 30 minutes.

They are mainly used by high mileage commercial electric fleets, predominantly taxis and private hire vehicles, as well as residents and visitors who need a quick ‘top up’ to complete their journey.

Barnet will be rolling rapid charge points out across the borough soon; further information will be released in due course.

Cost

Due to the current volatility in energy costs, charging costs are kept under review. This will allow us to provide competitive value for money rates to residents while covering the expected increased costs to the council. The cost of charging your electric vehicle varies across the borough.

There are no extra fees when using a Barnet charge point and you will not be charged for the use of Barnet car parks while plugged in and charging.

Future rollout

The council recognises that a ‘one size fits all’ policy is not viable for the delivery of charge points, and is therefore committed to expanding our comprehensive network of charge points that provides residents with a suite of options and ensures that the correct charging solution is placed in the correct location.

The council does not currently permit the use of trailing wires across the footway, even with the use of a cover or a charging gulley. However, as with all policies, this will be kept under review as the programme progresses.

Propose a charge point location

As we continue to expand the network of electric vehicle charge points across Barnet, we are exploring potential new sites. We take into account existing resident demand and charge point use as a key factor during the site identification process.

To help us build a picture of existing demand, you can indicate that you would like an electric vehicle charge point on your street by emailing the below information to EVCharging@Barnet.gov.uk

full name
street name
postcode
contact email
confirm you currently own an electric vehicle
confirm that you have no option but to park your vehicle on the street near your property
confirmation that if we provide an on-street charge point near your property, you would make use of it

We are gathering requests to inform future delivery; however, there are several other factors which determine site feasibility for an on-street charge point. Therefore, we won't be able to guarantee that a charge point will be installed close to your address due to technical restraints or lack of funding. Requests will therefore be looked at collectively and used to assess demand.