Tower Hamlets Expands EV Network Across East London Borough

Key Points

• Tower Hamlets has turned on its newest batch of rapid and ultra-rapid electric vehicle chargers.
• EV charging company Believ is funding, installing, and maintaining all the new chargers across the borough.
• The first chargers are now running at White Horse Lane, Stepney Green, and Chrisp Street, with plans for over 70 chargers across 35 sites.
• About 93 per cent of homes in Tower Hamlets do not have driveways or off-street parking.
• The council said the privately funded project fits into its local Climate Emergency Plan and its goal to reach net-zero by 2050.

Tower Hamlets (East London News) August 25, 2026 – The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has officially expanded its public electric vehicle charging infrastructure following the activation of its newest commercial network phase. As reported by Will Eichler of LAPV, charge point operator Believ has commenced live delivery of its largest rapid and ultra-rapid rollout to date, with the initial 17 high-powered units entering active service.

The overall capital programme will ultimately deliver more than 70 rapid and ultra-rapid charging sockets distributed across 35 targeted sites throughout the borough. The infrastructure scheme operates under a fully funded private business model, removing direct capital expenditure requirements from the local authority budget while expanding accessible power for local drivers, business fleets, and taxi operators.

What are the key locations for the new electric vehicle infrastructure?

The initial operational phase prioritises key traffic corridors and high-density residential sectors. As detailed by The Energyst, live rapid charging units have been brought online at key hubs including White Horse Lane, Prusom Street, Plumbers Row, Alfred Street, Stepney Green, and Chrisp Street.

The network installation combines dedicated electric vehicle bays alongside shared standard parking spaces. This design configuration aims to provide high-speed power replenishment without reducing standard parking access for non-electric motor vehicle drivers in dense residential zones.

How does the council plan to solve the off-street parking deficit?

Municipal transport metrics highlight a structural challenge for home charging across East London urban developments. Council data indicates that 93 per cent of residential properties within Tower Hamlets do not have access to private off-street parking or driveways, forcing vehicle owners to depend entirely on public highway infrastructure.

Speaking on the rollout strategic direction, Councillor Shafi Ahmed, Cabinet Member for a Clean and Green Borough, stated: “We want residents to have a range of options that work for them, whether that’s charging overnight near their home or getting a faster charge while they’re out and about. This latest investment is another important step towards cleaner transport in Tower Hamlets, helping us reduce emissions, improve air quality and build the infrastructure our borough will need for the future.”

The fast-charging capacity complements earlier municipal projects, which included targeted agreements with operators such as ubitricity and Shell to integrate standard power points directly into existing street lamp columns across local residential wards.

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What is the commercial strategy behind the fully funded deployment?

The infrastructure is supplied, installed, and maintained entirely through external commercial investment, removing capital cost burdens from local taxpayers. Guy Bartlett, Chief Executive Officer of Believ, detailed the commercial framework supporting municipal fleet transitions:

“Believ’s fully funded offering helps local authorities to make their electric vehicle infrastructure goals a reality. With their strategically positioned locations, these charge points will be instrumental in serving both residents and through-traffic, advancing electric mobility across the region.”

Under statutory rules governing highway alterations, public consultations were conducted under Section 17 of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2013. This framework provided residents with a 28-day notice period to review site feasibility assessments and submit feedback prior to highway works.

How does this expansion align with London net-zero targets?

The deployment forms part of the borough’s broader response to urban air pollution and decarbonisation mandates. Tower Hamlets has historically recorded significant levels of roadside nitrogen dioxide and particulate pollution, with municipal records showing around 40 per cent of borough residents live in zones exceeding baseline UK guidance for safe air limits.

As reported by GreenFleet, Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman highlighted the rapid uptake of zero-emission capable transport across the area:

“As part of our commitment to becoming a net zero borough and tackling the climate emergency, expanding sustainable travel options is essential. We know that more residents and businesses are switching to electric vehicles—Tower Hamlets has over 5,400 registered plug-in vehicles. Our ambition is to build a comprehensive electric vehicle charging network in our borough—so that no residents are more than a three-minute walk from an electric charging point.”

Background of the Tower Hamlets EV Expansion

The introduction of rapid and ultra-rapid charger hubs marks a phase shift in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets’ long-term transport strategy. In March 2019, Tower Hamlets Council formally declared a climate emergency, committing the local administration to achieving net-zero municipal emissions and driving borough-wide carbon reductions by 2050.

Prior to the introduction of high-power public highway chargers, public charging in the borough was predominantly limited to standard 5kW lamp-post sockets operated by ubitricity and char.gy, alongside a small selection of 7kW fast chargers provided by TotalEnergies. High-speed DC charging (50kW and above) was previously restricted primarily to off-street commercial car parks, such as private facilities in Canary Wharf and major retail locations like Sainsbury’s in Whitechapel.

To address rapid vehicle growth—with registered plug-in vehicles expanding by more than 200 per cent over recent four-year tracking periods—the council initiated a multi-track procurement strategy. This strategy paired low-speed overnight lamppost charging contracts with high-power rapid charging partnerships. The current Believ deployment represents the execution of this high-power highway charging masterplan, addressing critical gaps along major transit corridors.

Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Local Residents and Commercial Fleets

The expansion of the EV charging network is set to accelerate the transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to zero-emission mobility across East London.

• For Off-Street Parking Restricted Drivers: For the 93 per cent of local households without access to driveways, the deployment removes a significant barrier to EV ownership. Access to on-street rapid chargers reduces reliance on slow overnight street-light connections, allowing drivers to recharge batteries within 30 to 60 minutes during routine local trips.
• For Commercial Fleet Operators and Taxi Drivers: The addition of dedicated rapid charging bays along key routes like Stepney Green and White Horse Lane directly supports high-mileage commercial users. Private hire drivers and commercial delivery fleets will experience reduced downtime, making zero-emission fleet transitions economically viable within inner-city low-emission zones.
• For Local Air Quality and Public Health: As legacy diesel and petrol vehicles are progressively replaced by electric alternatives, roadside concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and particulate emissions are expected to decline along heavily trafficked routes, delivering measurable long-term health benefits to local urban communities.