Representatives from Dover District Council, Connected Kerb, Kent County Council, and The R&A - alongside a fully-electric Mercedes-Benz EQV - at one of the locations where Connected Kerb chargepoints are undergoing installation (Credit: The R&A)
Charging up a sustainable legacy for England’s first Open venue
The atmosphere in the run-up to The 149th Open at Royal St George’s is going to be electric, literally! Thanks to a collaboration between The R&A, Dover District Council (DDC), Kent County Council (KCC), and electric vehicle (EV) charging solution provider, Connected Kerb, The 149th Open will deliver a legacy of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the Dover district.
With funding from the Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), a total of 49 state-of-the-art charging points by Connected Kerb are being installed at 18 locations across Sandwich, Deal and Dover in the biggest investment in publicly funded electric vehicle charging in the district.
Dover District Council’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan sets out plans for the Council to be net zero by 2030, and to support the wider community so that the district can become carbon neutral by 2050.
Kent County Council’s strategic plan also seeks to achieve carbon neutrality in Kent by 2050, set out within the Kent & Medway Energy and Low Emissions Strategy. KCC is inviting Parish and Town Councils and Village Hall Associations to put forward locations for electric vehicle charging points for installation in 2021/22.
Meanwhile at Royal St George’s, Mercedes-Benz will provide fully-electric vehicles from Mercedes-EQ, which will be part of the Official Courtesy Car Fleet. This marks an important step in The R&A’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and innovation at golf’s original major championship. Mercedes-Benz is an Official Patron of The Open, and the Official Car of the Championship. The EVs featured at The 149th Open will come from Mercedes-Benz’s new EQ portfolio for electric intelligence.
Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Leader of Dover District Council, said: “We’re proud to host The Open and to be working with The R&A to deliver a sustainable championship. It’s the perfect platform to showcase to a global audience our joint commitment to tackling climate change.
“The 149th Open at Royal St George’s will leave a lasting legacy on which we can build a more sustainable future across the Dover district.”
Rhodri Price, Director – Championships at The R&A, said: “The Open is one of the world’s foremost sporting events and we work closely with our partners and stakeholders to ensure that we meet our responsibilities to the environment and act in a sustainable manner.
“We are committed to ensuring that The Open delivers a positive legacy to the local communities in which the Championship is staged each year. The installation of new charging infrastructure for the region will provide long-lasting benefits to electric vehicle users who are living, working, or travelling in Kent.”
KCC Cabinet Member for Environment, Tony Hills, said: “We are delighted that a large number of EV chargers are being installed in the area to support the event and the local communities for many years to come.
“It complements the EV charging projects being implemented across the county and will give businesses and the public more confidence that they too can make the switch to electric vehicles.”
Transport Minister Rachel Maclean, said: “As we look to reduce carbon emissions and strive towards our net-zero goals, I’m delighted to see such positive steps being taken to electrify such an iconic sporting event in the Dover district. Together with government, Kent County Council and their partners are delivering a charging network fit for the future, as we build back better and encourage drivers to make the switch.”
Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb, commented: “This is a really important and exciting collaboration that we are proud to be involved with. We see it as an exemplary project that showcases how the public and private sectors can come together to champion our environment and support local communities.”
Notes to Picture Editors:
The photograph attached may be used with editorial coverage of this news release only. Please credit The R&A.
Caption: “Representatives from Dover District Council, Connected Kerb, Kent County Council, and The R&A - alongside a fully-electric Mercedes-Benz EQV - at one of the locations where Connected Kerb chargepoints are undergoing installation.”
Notes to editors:
The Open
The 149th Open will be played at Royal St George’s from 11-18 July 2021.
The Open is golf’s original championship. Played since 1860 on iconic links golf courses, it is the sport’s most international Major Championship with qualifying events on every continent. For one week each year, the pursuit of the famous Claret Jug trophy is the focus of the sporting world, followed globally by millions of fans.
Staged by The R&A, The Open delivers an annual economic benefit of up to £100 million to its host region, while the Championship’s commercial success supports the development of the game, worldwide.
Further information: The R&A - Corporate Communications, +44 (0) 1334 460000 / media@randa.org
Connected Kerb
Connected Kerb are one of the UK’s leading charging point providers, delivering future-proof, cost-effective and sustainable EV charging solutions for the public sector, developers, fleets, workplaces, car parks and long-dwell destinations to help accelerate the transition to EVs for all.
Its unique solution combines power and data at the kerb to deliver user-friendly and reliable charging and provide the foundation for connected cities and communities.
For more information about Connected Kerb, images and to arrange interviews, please contact: media@connectedkerb.com
Posted on 25 June 2021