City centre showcase to anchor new EV support campaign
Bradford Council has launched the Plug In Bradford District campaign to help residents and businesses understand the realities of switching to electric vehicles and other low-emission transport. The initiative begins with a free, hands-on event in Centenary Square on Friday, 18 September, running from 9.45am to 4pm, and is designed to demystify charging, costs and the range of options now on the market.
Organised with Let’s Experience Electric, the city-centre showcase will bring together manufacturers, sector specialists and local partners to answer questions on vehicle models, charging infrastructure and the practicalities of ownership. It will also highlight projects supported by Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, alongside displays of LNER Bradford Beryl electric bikes for those exploring alternatives to car travel.
“Events like this help residents and businesses make informed choices, based on their own needs and budgets,” said Cllr Andrew Judson, executive member for economy, regeneration and planning at Bradford Council. “As technology continues to develop, many drivers are finding that electric vehicles can offer lower running costs and are now a viable alternative, especially with the cost of petrol and diesel nowadays.”
Business-focused support inside City Hall
While the activity in the square is aimed at the general public, the council is pairing it with a programme of business support sessions in City Hall. These will feature expert speakers from across the sector. Cenex, the not-for-profit advisory organisation, will outline opportunities for fleet modernisation, and Northern Powergrid will discuss how the regional electricity distribution network is being managed to accommodate the shift to electrified transport.
According to the council, the campaign intends to guide firms through the practical steps of assessing vehicle suitability, charging needs and potential funding routes, while also setting out alternatives where full electrification is not yet the right fit. The council says the ambition is to enable data-led decisions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
What visitors can expect on the day
- Hands-on look at a selection of EV makes and models with specialists on site.
- Information on charging options, including home, workplace and public solutions.
- Details of available grants and support schemes for households and businesses.
- Showcase of LNER Bradford Beryl e-bikes for short trips and last-mile travel.
- Updates on EV-related projects supported by Bradford Council and regional partners.
Andy Lewis from Let’s Experience Electric said: “We are really excited to be working with Bradford Council to showcase the latest makes and models of electric cars. Demand is increasing across the country as businesses and residents are looking to reduce costs and find out more about whether EVs are right for them. These events help you to ask those questions and find out if now is the right time. So come along and take a look.”
Event details at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Plug In Bradford District public showcase |
| Date | Friday, 18 September |
| Time | 9.45am–4pm |
| Location | Centenary Square, Bradford |
| Organisers | Bradford Council with Let’s Experience Electric |
| Business sessions | Inside City Hall (speakers include Cenex and Northern Powergrid) |
Helping Bradford households and firms weigh up the switch
The council says the new campaign is intended to give people space to test assumptions about the costs and convenience of electric transport. For many drivers, the transition hinges on clear information about charging at home or work, access to reliable public chargepoints and an honest assessment of total running costs. The event will offer opportunities to interrogate those issues directly with industry representatives and advisers.
For businesses operating cars, vans or mixed fleets, the City Hall sessions will focus on practical planning — from trialling suitable vehicle segments to mapping out charging demand, sequence and dwell times. With expert input from Cenex on fleet options and Northern Powergrid on network considerations, the council aims to position firms to make informed, staged decisions that suit their operations.
Broader campaign aims and local context
Beyond the one-day showcase, Plug In Bradford District is framed as an ongoing push to support residents and the business community through the transition to cleaner transport. The council says the focus will be on clarity around ownership, the realities of day-to-day charging, and the range of alternative travel choices where a private car is not the most practical option.
With petrol and diesel prices highlighted by the council as a concern for many households and companies, the campaign will put a spotlight on lifetime running costs, maintenance profiles and the suitability of different models for common Bradford journeys. For those who cannot yet switch, the inclusion of e-bikes in the city-centre display signals a broader conversation about short urban trips and cost-effective options to complement public transport.
Residents and business owners who attend will be able to speak with specialists about their specific circumstances — whether that is off-street charging at home, shared facilities at apartment blocks, depot-based charging for commercial vehicles, or understanding how regional electricity distribution planning interacts with demand growth over time.
As the council and regional partners roll out the campaign, the success of the programme will depend on uptake and the extent to which clear, accessible information reduces uncertainty. The Centenary Square event is intended as an entry point: an opportunity for people to compare options in one place, ask probing questions of suppliers and advisers, and leave with practical next steps tailored to their budget and travel patterns.
