BCP Council has announced plans to install more than 130 charges for electric vehicles starting this summer.

The rollout will be completed over the next year at a number of locations close to shops, parks, beaches, restaurants and leisure centres.

The first phase will see a mixture of new fast and rapid chargers installed at 34 council owned car parks this summer including Bath Road South and Richmond Hill in Bournemouth, Bridge Street in Christchurch and Branksome Chine in Poole.

Rapid chargers (50kW) will allow most electric cars to be charged from empty to 80 per cent in around 40 minutes or smaller top-ups in a shorter time.

The fast chargers (22kW) are more suited to district centres where shoppers can fully charge their cars during a two-hour stay or can just add some power during whatever period they are parked.

Councillor Mike Greene, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for transport and sustainability, said: “This transformational step forward in the provision of EV charging infrastructure in our area is about making sure that we are prepared for the future.

"The siting of these new chargers in public car parks means that they are easily accessible for local people who do not have charging points at their homes, as well as for visitors.”

As with the existing EV chargers, users will be able to pay via the Mer app.

Where the new charges will be installed across BCP

Bournemouth

Bath Road South Car Park

Beacon Road Car Park

Durley Chine Car Park

Glen Fern Car Park

Hawkwood Road 1 Car Park

Hengistbury Head Car Park

Kings Park Car Park

Leslie Road Car Park

Littledown Leisure Centre Car Park

Milburn Road Car Park

Overstrand Car Park

Pavilion & Westover Gardens Car Park

Richmond Hill Car Park

Warren Edge Car Park

West Hill Car Park

Christchurch

Avon Run Road Car Park

Bridge Street Car Park

Bypass Car Park

Highcliffe Cliff Top Car Park

Mudeford Quay Car Park

Priory Car Park

Wick Lane Car Park

Willow Way Car Park

Wortley Road Car Park

Poole

Branksome Chine Car Park

Branksome Dene Chine Car Park

Lake Pier Car Park

Sandbanks Car Park

Seldown Car Park

Serpentine Lane & Serpentine Lane Disabled Car Parks

Shoppers 1&2 MSCP

Station Approach Car Park

Swimming Pool Car Park