Mer, a leading European electric vehicle (EV) charging company will install and operate an additional 27 fast and rapid charging stations for Dorset Council. This phase extends the number of Mer chargers across the county to over 52. The increased coverage will help to satisfy the demand of EV drivers who visit vacation hotspots, as well as the countyโs residents.
Mer is owned and operated by Statkraft, Europeโs largest generator of renewable energy. Its EV chargers are powered by 100% renewable energy. Expanding the network of Mer chargers will contribute to Dorset Councilโs goal of reducing its carbon budget by 71% by 2030 and achieving overall carbon neutrality by 2040, as outlined in their Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy.
Alex Hinchcliffe, Sales Director at Mer UK โ Public charging explains, โSustainable, future-fit solutions are what local authorities need. Weโre working with several councils like Dorset to ensure they provide the right charging stations for EV drivers.
Results from our recent industry survey highlight that 69% of peopleย want to see more public charging points, and weโre glad to more than double the number of Mer stations in Dorset with the new tranche of fast and rapid charge units.โ
This phase of the project is partly funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles, who awarded ยฃ125k to Dorset Council to help boost charge-point availability for households without private access to off-street charging.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment at Dorset Council said, โThe greater spread of EV chargers in Dorset will urge people to make the switch to electric vehicles, support the reduction of vehicle emissions across the county, assist where home charging is not an option and help reduce holidaymakersโ range anxiety.
More coverage means tourists can relax while theyโre visiting, rather than worrying about their journeys around the Jurassic coast. We hope this will encourage more EV drivers to explore Dorset, giving the countyโs tourist figures a boost.โ
Plans are in place to further expand Dorsetโs EV charging network, andย all residents are encouraged to contribute suggestions for new locations. As the new charging stations come online, residents and visitors alike can use the Mer Driver Portalย to find their nearest charge point location.
