Vehicle charging hub, a first of its kind in Wales

Preparations are underway to open the new first of its kind in Wales electric vehicle charging hub in Cross Hands.

The superfast charging hub which is located off the A48 is due to open later this month and will provide four 50KW rapid chargers and one 150KW super rapid charger.

The chargers will provide a source of clean energy and help reduce draw from the national grid. The project is funded through the Welsh Government’s Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle Fund.

It comes just weeks after Carmarthenshire County Council launched its ten-year Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy.

The strategy sets out a vision to encourage and promote the development of infrastructure necessary to enable employees, residents, communities, visitors, businesses and other organisations to use EVs as part of their everyday routine.

It also outlines ways in which the council will encourage and support EV use across all sectors.

Cabinet Member for Carmarthenshire County Council Environment, Cllr Hazel Evans said the council is developing and promoting a network of electric charging points so it future proofs the county’s transport network as well as contributing to local and global pollution reduction target.

She said: “We are delighted to be able to open this first of its kind in Wales superfast charging hub. We are also pleased to launch our Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy. We recognise the opportunities Electric Vehicles provide in supporting our decarbonisation ambitions set out in ‘Prosiect Zero Sir Gâr’ and with the ever-increasing number of electric vehicles on our roads, we need to ensure that drivers have access to a coherent network of EV charging infrastructure across the county.

We are working closely with partners and Welsh Government to identify new areas where extra provision will prove beneficial, not just along the strategic road network, but also inclusive of destination charging and for specific initiatives such as the ‘Ten Towns’. We remain committed to supporting the development of high quality, reliable EV infrastructure to the residents, businesses and visitors of Carmarthenshire.

This strategy supports us in these goals and helps to plan and set targets for the next 10 years.”

This latest scheme is part of Carmarthenshire County Council’s ongoing efforts to support sustainability as it works towards becoming a net zero carbon local authority by 2030. The council has already installed 28 fast charging points across the county with a further 15 being added by the end of March.

Earlier this year the council launched a new campaign Prosiect Zero Sir Gâr to coincide with COP26 – a global summit for climate action – which shines a spotlight on efforts being made to become carbon neutral.