Switch From Blink Electric Vehicle Chargepoints Underway
One of the first new char.gy chargepoints installed in Brighton & Hove
More than 500 of Brighton & Hove's Electric Vehicle chargepoints will transfer from Blink Charging UK to Believ and Char.gy from Thursday 15 October, after Brighton & Hove City Council's contract with Blink comes to an end. The standard, fast and rapid chargepoints across the city are all affected by the change.
What it means for drivers already using Blink
Residents currently using Blink chargepoints should familiarise themselves with the new charging providers and the location of their nearest chargepoint. All standard chargepoints are being replaced with new Char.gy units, so drivers who currently use the green Blink chargers will see their local unit swapped out for a new one as part of the switch.
Registering with the new providers
Chargepoints will be accessible via the Believ and Char.gy apps and through compatible third-party charging apps. Drivers new to the networks can register for pay-as-you-go charging via Char.gy's start page, download the Char.gy app, or get help finding or using a chargepoint through the Char.gy help centre.
Charging costs are coming down
The switch will also mean a reduction in most charging costs, with cheaper rates for overnight charging on standard chargepoints and on all fast and rapid chargepoints. The table below shows how the new per kWh rates under Char.gy and Believ compare with the outgoing Blink pricing.
| Type | Blink | Char.gy | Believ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Overnight | 55p | 39p | N/A |
| Standard Daytime | 55p | 59p | N/A |
| Fast Overnight | 55p | N/A | 41p |
| Fast Daytime | 55p | N/A | 53p |
| Rapid Overnight | 73p | N/A | 48p |
| Rapid Daytime | 73p | N/A | 58p |
500 new chargepoints already installed since March
The switch to new operators is just part of the wider work under way to expand the city's EV charging network.
500
new chargepoints installed since March
600
more planned over the next six months
50
new rapid chargers beginning this October
Best connected city outside London
It means Brighton & Hove remains the best connected city outside London, with 86% of households now within a five minute walk of a public chargepoint, up from 83% in 2025. In all, around 1,600 new chargepoints are due to be installed over the next three years, with 6,000 planned between now and 2040. Full details of the council's EV charging programme are on the Brighton & Hove City Council website.
One of the first new Char.gy units
New Char.gy chargepoints are already appearing on streets across the city as the rollout continues, marked with the network's own branding so drivers can tell them apart from the outgoing Blink units at a glance.
Pavement gullies for homes without off-street parking
The council is also developing plans for a pilot to install almost 200 pavement gullies for homes that don't have off-street parking, using funding from the Department for Transport's EV Pavement Channel Grant. The gullies would allow a charging cable to be run safely through the pavement from a property to a vehicle parked on the road.
Council's response
Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet member for Transport and City Infrastructure, said Brighton & Hove has no plans to stop expanding the network.
"Brighton & Hove has one of the best EV charging networks in the country but we have no plans to stop here. We are much more ambitious and are driving forward with much more to come. Over the next few years we're going to be installing hundreds more chargepoints to meet the needs of our city. With the popularity of electric vehicles growing, we need to build an infrastructure that's fit for the future. It's really pleasing the cost of charging will be coming down with the switch to new operators. We want a network that's affordable and sustainable for our residents, businesses and visitors."
Finding a chargepoint near you
Both the Char.gy and Believ apps show live chargepoint locations and availability across the city, including on-the-go filtering by connector type and status. Drivers who can't find a nearby chargepoint, or want one installed closer to home, can get in touch via Char.gy's contact page, and can keep up with network updates by subscribing to the Char.gy newsletter.
Watch: the switch in Brighton & Hove
The switch completes on Thursday 15 October, and the council says the EV charging rollout across Brighton & Hove will keep expanding well beyond that date.
Read more about the council's EV charging programme →
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