The London Borough of Newham has celebrated the installation of its 500th public electric vehicle charger, delivered through a partnership with Uber and charge point operator Believ.

The milestone follows the installation of more than 450 chargers across the borough since October 2023. The project forms part of Newham Council’s wider plans to reach net zero by 2045 and tackle toxic air pollution, while improving accessibility to public charging for residents without off-street parking.

Over 70% of residents in Newham live in flats, meaning at-home charging is not an option for most EV drivers. The rapid deployment of on-street chargers is therefore key to improving uptake and supporting the transition to electric mobility in one of London’s most densely populated boroughs.

Uber helped fund the infrastructure rollout through its Clean Air Plan, which has supported the installation of more than 700 chargers across London.

Andrew Brem, general manager at Uber UK, said: “Improving access to public charging is one of the biggest things we can do to help people switch to electric vehicles.

“Our partnership with Newham Council and Believ is exactly what we want to do more of, and we hope other London boroughs follow their lead.”

Believ is responsible for installation, maintenance, and operation of the chargers on a fully funded basis.

The company’s CEO, Guy Bartlett, said: “This project shows that councils, funders, and operators can come together at pace to deliver infrastructure that makes a real difference.

“More public EV charge points in the right locations will give confidence to people who want to transition to cleaner transport.”

The rollout has been supported by Newham Council’s planning and Highways teams, who helped identify locations based on demand, accessibility, and road safety considerations.

The council has committed to a “clean, green, and accessible” transport plan, with EV infrastructure central to its goals.