Local EV Chargers Are Changing: Plan Before You Plug In
Corby's EV charging network is being upgraded and some old points removed. Here's what's changing locally and how to keep your electric car road-ready.
Short answer: some ageing council charging points in North Northamptonshire have been removed, and others are being replaced this year as part of a wider upgrade. If you drive electric, it's worth checking your usual charging spots before you set off, rather than discovering a gap in the network when your battery's low.
What's actually changing
Electric chargepoints at two sites have been removed due to the age of the equipment, with chargepoints at the Commercial Way (Swansgate Shopping Centre) multi-storey car park in Wellingborough and Kettering Crematorium taken out by an external supplier as they no longer met requirements. On top of that, legacy chargepoints at five other council-owned car parks are due to be replaced later this year by Connected Kerb, including sites in Parkland Gateway and the station car park in Corby, plus three car parks in Kettering.
Five council car parks that previously had EV chargepoints have seen these reach the end of their maintainable lifetime and go out of use, with new units due to be installed in 2026 by Connected Kerb through the council's LEVI project. The wider rollout involves a mix of 7kW dual socket and 22kW chargepoints across more than 320 sites in towns and villages across the area.
Why this matters for your journey
If you rely on a particular public charger for your commute or school run, don't assume it's still there. Apps can lag behind real-world changes, so it's worth a quick check on a live map before longer trips. For Wellingborough drivers, the council points to nearby alternatives on Doddington Road, Castle Road and Broad Green, plus a rapid charger on Church Street.
A simple planning habit
- Check charger status the night before a long trip, not on the way
- Keep a backup route with a second charging option
- Note that new installations can take time, so patience helps during the transition
Charging sorted — what about the car itself?
Route planning solves half the problem. The other half is making sure your EV or hybrid is actually fit for the miles between chargers. Battery-heavy vehicles put extra load on tyres, brakes and suspension, and range can drop noticeably if tyre pressures or wear are off. If you've noticed odd noises, reduced range, or the ride feeling different, that's worth an inspection rather than a guess.
At Central Autopoint in Corby, we service and repair EVs and hybrids alongside regular tyre and brake work, so your car's ready for whatever the local charging map looks like this month. If you'd like a check before your next long drive, get in touch and we'll take a look.
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