Newham Council hits 500 EV charge point milestone as part of partnership with Believ and Uber on Clean Air Day
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
The London Borough of Newham has marked Clean Air Day 2025 by announcing the installation of its 500th on-street electric vehicle charge point.
Working alongside EV infrastructure partners Believ and Uber, the borough is pushing ahead with one of the most ambitious charging networks in the capital. Officials have confirmed that more than 1,000 charge points will be in place by April 2026, rising to 3,000 by 2030.
The charge point rollout is central to Newham’s Climate Emergency Action Plan. The borough is aiming to become carbon neutral by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2050. With many residents living in properties without off-street parking, the new on-street charging network is helping bridge the gap for those who need access to charging near their homes.
Believ, the appointed charge point operator, has taken on full responsibility for installing, operating and maintaining the network. The majority of the new infrastructure—800 charge points—is being funded through Believ and Uber. Further financial backing is being secured from other sources to support the broader programme.
Local input has shaped the development of the network. Feedback from residents and Uber drivers has been used to guide the location of charging sites, with the aim of ensuring accessibility and effective use. The borough has one of the highest numbers of Uber drivers in London, making this deployment a key part of improving infrastructure for commercial and private users alike.
The Newham scheme forms part of a wider collaboration between Uber and Believ, which also includes Redbridge and Brent.
Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, said: “We know how popular the existing EV charging points around Newham already are, which is why we want to see a lot more of them across the borough.
“Our Electric Vehicle Charging Point expansion is a great example of our Just Transition Plan in action, as it’s helping residents who’ve made the move to electric and hybrid vehicles save money through lower fuel and parking costs, as well as providing cleaner air for our residents, and lower CO2 emissions as more and more people move away from fossil-fuel powered cars.”
Andrew Brem, General Manager at Uber, said: “Getting these chargers in the ground is a huge milestone, with drivers often telling me that being able to access reliable charging near their homes is critical to their decision to switch to an EV.”
Guy Bartlett, Believ CEO, added: “This partnership is designed to support the specific needs of Newham Council’s residents, tackle the climate emergency and make electric vehicles accessible to all. The charge points will provide the convenience required for drivers to switch away from fossil fuels.”
