Moves to increase the number of public charge points for electric vehicles (EVs) in Dorset are underway.

This expansion will see a combination of fast (22kW), rapid (50kW) and ultra-fast (150kW) charging units installed; the latter allowing users to charge 100 miles in just ten minutes.

Locally, the new charging points, which are being installed by Joju Charging, are planned for: Lower Sea Lane car park, Charmouth; Yarn Barton car park, Beaminster; South Street car park, Bridport; Rope Walks car park, Bridport; Holmbush car park, Lyme Regis.

In Dorchester they will be in Durngate Street car park, Top O’Town short stay car park, and Fairfield long stay car park.

To view the locations of all Dorset’s charge points, visit www.zap-map.com.

Increasing the number of EV charging points is among the actions in Dorset Council's Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy.

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “In rural counties like Dorset, car ownership is amongst the highest in the country. By increasing the provision of electric vehicle charging points, we hope to provide the essential infrastructure needed to encourage more car owners in Dorset to choose electric vehicles over petrol and diesel equivalents."

Funding is coming from a mixture of sources, with the main bulk of the cost being met by Joju and their funding partners Mer. The remaining costs are being funded by the council through a mixture of developer funding and the Department of Transport’s On-Street Residential Charging Scheme (ORCS).