Councillor Shafi Ahmed and Guy Bartlett, CEO of Believ, standing beside a newly installed rapid charger in Bethnal Green.
More than 70 rapid and ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) chargers are being installed at 35 sites across Tower Hamlets, with the first 17 chargers already live.
The council is working with charge point operator Believ to give residents, businesses, taxi drivers and other road users more options to charge quickly and conveniently. The new chargers build on the council's major expansion of EV infrastructure, which has already seen 2,000 residential charge points installed in existing lamp columns across Tower Hamlets. With 93 per cent of homes in the borough lacking off-street parking, the council is developing a comprehensive network of different charging options to make owning and charging an electric vehicle practical for more residents. While the 2,000 lamp column chargers provide convenient charging close to people's homes, the new rapid and ultra-rapid chargers are designed for shorter charging sessions and higher-demand users, including taxi drivers, businesses and fleet vehicles.
Following significant growth in EV ownership in recent years, more than 5,400 plug-in vehicles are registered in Tower Hamlets. Expanding the charging network forms part of the council's wider work to reduce transport emissions, improve air quality and support the borough's transition towards net zero. The latest project is fully funded by Believ and represents the company's largest deployment of rapid and ultra-rapid chargers to date. Charge points are being strategically located across the borough to provide convenient access while balancing the needs of other road users. A mixture of dedicated EV charging bays and standard parking bays with access to EV charging will help protect existing parking provision. The first chargers are now live at locations including White Horse Lane, Prusom Street, Plumbers Row, Alfred Street, Stepney Green and Chrisp Street, with further sites to follow as the rollout continues.
Councillor Shafi Ahmed, Cabinet Member for a Clean and Green Borough, said:
"We've already installed 2,000 lamp column charge points across Tower Hamlets, making it easier for residents to charge electric vehicles close to home. Now we're building on that network with rapid and ultra-rapid chargers for people who need to charge more quickly."
"With 93 per cent of homes in Tower Hamlets without off-street parking, having a comprehensive and accessible public charging network is essential. We want residents to have a range of options that work for them, whether that's charging overnight near their home or getting a faster charge while they're out and about.
"This latest investment is another important step towards cleaner transport in Tower Hamlets, helping us reduce emissions, improve air quality and build the infrastructure our borough will need for the future."
Guy Bartlett, CEO of Believ, said:
"We are proud to be supporting Tower Hamlets with its EV charge point rollout, delivering rapid and ultra-rapid charging across the borough. Believ’s fully funded offering helps local authorities to make their electric vehicle infrastructure goals a reality.“
"With their strategically positioned locations, these charge points will be instrumental in serving both residents and through-traffic, advancing electric mobility across the region.”
Posted on Monday 24th August 2026