Urban Fox rolls out Newport’s first lamppost EV chargers

Newport City Council and Urban Fox are excited to announce that the first wave of new on-street electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints will be going live across Newport from this week, with the full network set to be operational by the end of this month.

Urban Fox were awarded the contract by Newport City Council earlier this year to deliver the country’s first lamppost-based EV charging network – a key milestone in Newport’s journey to becoming a cleaner, greener, more sustainable city.

In total, 120 chargepoints will be installed on residential streets throughout Newport, many of which will be expertly integrated into existing streetlamps. This approach helps preserve pavement space, improves accessibility, and maintains the character of local neighbourhoods – all while making EV charging more convenient for residents, especially those without off-street parking.

Two types of chargers will be introduced, both offering 5kW fast charging – ideal for overnight use. They’re designed to be simple, reliable and user-friendly, and can be easily located and accessed via the Urban Fox app. Residents will be able to find available chargers, start charging sessions and manage payments all from their smartphone.

Oli Freeling-Wilkinson, CEO of Urban Fox, said: “The launch of the first chargepoints in Newport marks an exciting step forward – not only for Urban Fox but for residents across the city. By integrating chargepoints into existing infrastructure, we’re making EV charging convenient, accessible, and discreet, without adding street clutter. We’re proud to support Newport’s leadership in making the switch to electric vehicles easier for everyone.”

Councillor Yvonne Forsey, Cabinet Member for Climate Change at Newport City Council, added: “They’re very straightforward to use and provide an innovative charging solution for those without access to off-street parking.

“It’s important to us that we look at as many different ways as possible to expand the coverage of our charging network so that as many of our residents as possible can benefit.”

This rollout forms part of Newport City Council's broader efforts to support residents and businesses in making low-carbon transport choices, in line with the council’s climate change commitments and Wales’s national Net Zero targets.