The city's electric vehicle chargepoints are set to change hands as the council switches from Blink Charging UK to new providers Believ and Char.gy. This transition, affecting over 500 standard, fast, and rapid chargepoints, will commence on Thursday, 15 October, following the conclusion of the council's contract with Blink.
Residents currently using Blink chargepoints are advised to familiarise themselves with the new charging providers. Access to the chargepoints will be available through the dedicated Believ and Char.gy apps, as well as compatible third-party charging applications. The switch is also expected to lead to a reduction in charging costs, with cheaper rates planned for overnight charging on standard units and for all fast and rapid chargepoints. Furthermore, all standard chargepoints are being replaced with new units from Char.gy.
This upgrade is part of a broader initiative to expand Brighton & Hove's EV charging network. Since March, 500 new chargepoints have been installed, with an additional 600 planned over the next six months. The installation of 50 new rapid chargers is also set to begin in October. These developments solidify Brighton & Hove's position as a leading city for EV connectivity outside of London, with 86% of households now within a five-minute walk of a public chargepoint, an increase from 83% in 2025.
Looking ahead, approximately 1,600 new chargepoints are scheduled for installation over the next three years, with a long-term plan for 6,000 by 2040. The council is also developing a pilot scheme to install nearly 200 pavement gullies for homes lacking off-street parking, supported by funding from the Department for Transport's EV Pavement Channel Grant. These gullies would enable charging cables to be safely routed through pavements to vehicles parked on the road.
Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet member for Transport and City Infrastructure, commented on the city's ambitions: “Brighton & Hove has one of the best EV charging networks in the country but we have no plans to stop here. We are much more ambitious and are driving forward with much more to come. Over the next few years we’re going to be installing hundreds more chargepoints to meet the needs of our city. With the popularity of electric vehicles growing, we need to build an infrastructure that’s fit for the future. It’s really pleasing the cost of charging will be coming down with the switch to new operators. We want a network that’s affordable and sustainable for our residents, businesses and visitors.”
The Planning Register, Licensing Register, and HMO renewals will be unavailable on the evening of Wednesday, 7 October, and all day on Thursday, 8 October, due to essential maintenance.
