Mayor Lutfur Rahman and Cabinet Member for Environment and the Climate Emergency, Councillor Shafi Ahmed
Tower Hamlets has installed the first of 2,000 new on-street residential electric vehicle (EV) charging points, marking the launch of a major initiative to support the borough’s transition to electric vehicles and accelerate access to sustainable transportation.
The project, which is being delivered in partnership with ubitricity, is a key component of the borough’s commitment to reducing emissions and improving air quality, following its declaration of a climate emergency in March 2019.
The charge points will be installed in existing lampposts, helping local residents to conveniently charge their vehicles closer to their homes. The installation will also cause minimal disruption – they only take thirty minutes to install into current infrastructure.
The charge points will be installed on a ward-by-ward basis, starting with Bow East, Island Gardens and Whitechapel. All 2,000 charging points will be installed by early 2026.
Beyond enhancing EV accessibility, the project brings wider benefits to the community. As part of the contract, ubitricity, in collaboration with Shell UK, has committed to providing apprenticeship placements to upskill Tower Hamlets residents. Funding will support training for intermediate, advanced, and higher-level apprenticeships throughout the 10-year agreement.
With over 9,200 public charge points already in operation, ubitricity will supply, install, own, operate, maintain, and manage the new infrastructure on behalf of Tower Hamlets Council, ensuring a seamless and effective transition to greener transport solutions.
Lutfur Rahman, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said:
“As part of our commitment to becoming a net zero borough and tackling the climate emergency, expanding sustainable travel options is essential. We know that more residents and businesses are switching to electric vehicles – Tower Hamlets has over 5,400 registered plug-in vehicles, which represents an increase of over 200% from the previous 4-years.
“With 93% of homes lacking off-street parking, public charging infrastructure is vital. Our ambition is to build a comprehensive electric vehicle charging network in our borough – so that no residents are more than a 3-minute walk from an electric charging point.
“Supporting a cleaner, greener borough for everyone means building emission-reducing infrastructure now while also investing in sustainable infrastructure that is fit for the future. We look forward to working with ubitricity as we deliver the new charging points and provide more apprenticeships for our young people to create local knowledge and support green job opportunities.”
Stuart Wilson, UK Managing Director of ubitricity, said:
“We’re proud to work on this groundbreaking project alongside the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to expand access to EV charging across the community. By taking action to install 2,000 charge points using existing street lights, we’re making it easier for residents to charge right outside their homes - helping to build a more connected and cleaner London.”
In addition to these 2,000 new chargers being delivered, the council is working to deliver an additional thirty-five rapid charging points over the next twelve months.
Posted on Wednesday 25th June 2025