Drivers in Cambridgeshire can now charge their electric vehicles using clean, renewable energy at the St Ives Park & Ride.
Nine new solar-powered EV charging points have been installed beside the bus stops, making it simple for drivers to top up while taking the bus. Eight standard chargers are available to all users, along with one accessible PAS-compliant charger and a designated disabled parking bay.
The 22 kW chargers are powered entirely by renewable electricity generated by the site’s smart energy grid, a network of solar panels mounted on canopies throughout the car park. This makes the new facility one of the greenest EV charging options in the UK.
Drivers can charge via the Genie Point app or pay contactlessly, with rates set at 50 pence per kWh plus a £1.25 connection fee. Revenue from the chargers, along with electricity exported to the national grid, supports key council services such as social care.
Councillor Ros Hathorn, Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Environment & Green Investment Committee, said: “We’re committed to becoming a net zero county by 2045, so it’s great to see innovative projects like the St Ives Smart Energy Grid deliver some of the renewable energy we need right here on our own Park & Ride site.”
The solar-powered grid has already saved over 110 tonnes of CO₂e since it began generating energy, while also raising revenue for vital local services.
The county council is now rolling out similar infrastructure across other sites. Later this year, Babraham Road Park & Ride will introduce 35 solar-powered charging points, including three accessible bays, using the same system and app as St Ives.
