Sale of the Recharge Network

The Recharge network (www.merseytravel.gov.uk/recharge) is the name given to the Liverpool City Region's electric vehicle recharging network developed with the aim of creating a vibrant low carbon economy for the Liverpool City Region (LCR). The LCR consists of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. There are currently 52 publicly available charge points at 21 sites across the LCR. These charge points were originally installed through OLEV and Local Growth Deal funding with the intention of establishing the LCR Electric Charge point network. As the network has now been established we are hoping to sell it on to someone that will be able to take network from strength to strength, expanding and improving the Recharge offer to the residents of the LCR. The successful bidder would own, operate and maintain this already established Recharge network which is spread across a variety of host sites within the LCR. Prior to speaking to the market we asked the hosts to set out what they would expect from any future operator. Some of the hosts are happy with the status quo whilst others would expect the successful bidder to upgrade their post.