Work starts to install electric vehicle charging points at Seacourt Park & Ride

Work has started to install the first City Council-owned electric vehicle charging points for drivers at Seacourt Park & Ride, providing charging space for up to 10 electric vehicles at once.

The work, which is being carried out by the council’s own company, ODS, will see the installation of five new charging points, each with two bays – the first Council-owned chargers to be installed at the Park & Ride site. They will provide charging for up to 10 electric vehicles simultaneously.

The five electric vehicle chargers will consist of:

• four 22kW chargers – capable of a full charge in 3-4 hours

• one 100kW charger – capable of a full charge in 30 mins

The chargers will join a network of 132 public chargers across Oxford, of which 75 are council-owned or facilitated.

The chargers will allow drivers to charge their vehicles while visiting the city. Alternatively, drivers can use the Park & Ride for longer periods of parking, allowing commuters to charge during the day, or overnight charging for local residents.  

The new chargers will also be accompanied by an electric car club vehicle at the site, courtesy of Go Ultra Low Oxford partner, Co Wheels as part of the Oxfordshire Car Club pilot scheme which is running until May 2024.

The installation of the new chargers is part of a programme to support electric vehicle uptake across Oxford, as well as the City Council’s wider goal to become a Net Zero Carbon city by 2040.

The installation work is expected to be complete by the end of the month, and once installed, the site will be managed by ODS with the chargers operated by Wenea.

Normal parking charges will apply when using the site, in addition to electric vehicle charging tariffs.

A map with the location of all public charging points in Oxford can be found here.

Electric vehicle charging in Oxford

Last year, the Council approved the Oxford EV Infrastructure Strategy, which outlines how the Council will deliver EV charging points across the city.

As part of the strategy, Park & Rides have been identified as providing an opportunity for shared use by residents, commuters, visitors and overnight vehicles, and could be particularly important for those without access to home chargers. 

Last summer, a new charging hub opened at Redbridge Park & Ride, which is home to Europe’s most powerful charging hub – providing charging for up to 42 vehicles at once. The Park & Ride is also home to an electric car club vehicle, as part of a countywide trial which aims to provide an affordable experience of driving an electric vehicle, without a long-term commitment.

Find out more about electric vehicles

Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire district councils, and Oxford Local Enterprise Partnership (OXLEP) have created the Climate Action Oxfordshire website.

The website contains lots of information about choosing an electric vehicle as well as information about other ways Oxfordshire residents can help tackle the climate emergency.

Councillor Louise Upton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Healthier Communities, Oxford City Council said: “I am delighted that we are installing the first electric vehicle charging points at Seacourt Park & Ride. Not only will the new charging points provide facilities for commuters and visitors, but also local residents without their own chargers will be able to use them. This is a great facility to have at one of our Park & Rides. As well as being really useful for people driving to Oxford, I hope it will enable more of our local residents to consider owning an electric car.”

Laura Harlock, Parks and Open Spaces Service Manager, ODS said: "We are thrilled to announce the commencement of the installation of the first electric vehicle charging points at Seacourt Park & Ride. This project signifies a step toward a more sustainable and eco-friendly future. With five new charging points, we are providing convenient charging spaces for up to 10 electric vehicles at once. We are committed to making EV charging accessible to all, whether for city visitors, commuters, or local residents. The installation work is on track for completion by the end of the month, and we are excited to manage this facility to serve our community."