Reading Borough Council (RBC) is inviting tenders to install and operate at least 1,500 on-street electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Most of the chargers are expected to use existing street lamp columns but some may require dedicated new chargers.
The contractor will be required to provide a “full solution” from planning, project management and sourcing, to installation and commissioning, to operation and maintenance and decommissioning. The contractor will operate the service on a concession basis, taking on financial and operating risks, including financing capital costs and revenue. RBC has specified that the points must comply with the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) and Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP). The contract is due to commence in October 2025 and will be for an initial period of 15 years, with the option to extend for an additional period of 12 months.
RBC said it will provide a “limited subsidy” to the preferred bidder, which it has secured via the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund (LEVI). RBC has won £766,000 of LEVI subsidy.
The council tender said estimated revenue from EV charging activities has been calculated as an average price of £0.60 per kWh, across 1,500 on-street standard charges (averaging 5kW), utilised on average for 30% of the day, over 16 years. But it warned the value may “vary considerably”, according to wholesale energy prices, EV take-up, speed of charge point roll out, availability of any additional subsidy payments, any change in the number of chargepoints installed etc.
RBC is one of 11 councils currently out to tender for EV chargepoints supported by LEVI. The others are North Yorkshire, North Northamptonshire, Kent County Council, Devon & Torbay, Cheshire West & Chester, Southend-on-Sea, Luton, West Berkshire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen.
Links to all the open LEVI tenders here