Dozens of new electric vehicle charging points have gone live across Manchester as part of a major new trial designed to make EV ownership easier and more accessible for residents.
The pilot, delivered by Manchester City Council in partnership with AMEY, has seen 38 EV charging points installed directly into existing lampposts across the city, offering a convenient, affordable way for Mancunians to charge their cars close to home.
While EVs are increasingly attractive for their lower running costs, environmental benefits and quieter performance, many potential owners face significant barriers due to limited charging infrastructure.
Common challenges include:
- Living in flats or apartments without driveways
- Being located too far from traditional third‑party charging stations
- Being unable to install a home charging unit
The council’s new lamppost chargers aim to remove these obstacles by bringing charging directly to residential streets, allowing drivers to plug in at street level without the need for dedicated parking or home installations.
Integrated seamlessly into existing lamppost structures, the chargers reduce the need for additional street clutter while offering a more affordable option compared with many commercial charging points.
To ensure ease of use, clear instructions are being attached to each lamppost so drivers can quickly understand how to access and activate the service.
Council leaders say the locations for the first wave of chargers were chosen based on:
- Demonstrated resident demand
- Areas where people specifically requested EV support
- Streets with limited or no off‑street parking
The pilot is intended to make EV ownership more feasible for people who currently lack charging options near home.
With all 38 charging points now operational, the council has confirmed plans to expand the scheme if the trial proves successful. A wider roll‑out would help accelerate the city’s transition to cleaner transport and support Manchester’s ambition to cut emissions and improve air quality.
Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport, Cllr Tracey Rawlins, commented:
“As the Council continues its work towards making Manchester a zero-carbon city, initiatives like this will play a vital part in achieving that goal.
“While huge leaps have been made in recent years around EVs, there is still a fundamental barrier for people who may otherwise get one – the ease of charging.
“A lot of our residents don't have off-street parking, and for them, accessing EV charging that is both affordable and accessible is particularly hard. This is a big gap in EV charging infrastructure, in Manchester and elsewhere.
“This scheme provides a practical and efficient solution to this problem. It doesn’t require any extra outlay for our residents, but it will provide them all the benefits of having a charging point at home.
“With this initial tranche of 38 points we’re making a big statement of ambition, and one that we would like to expand across more parts of Manchester if this trial proves to be a success.”
As part of its wider climate strategy, Manchester continues to invest in alternatives to petrol and diesel vehicles, which remain a major contributor to urban pollution. The new lamppost chargers form a key part of efforts to support residents in making the switch to cleaner, greener modes of transport.
If successful, the approach could serve as a blueprint for other UK cities with similar housing profiles and charging challenges.
Image credit: iStock
