Brighton & Hove City Council changed the operator of its public charging network on 15 October 2026. Its contract with Blink Charging UK ended that day, and two companies took over: Believ, which now runs the existing Standard Plus and Rapid chargepoints, and Char.gy, which is replacing Blink's lamp-column chargers with its own units, according to the council's operator-change notice.
For drivers, the part that matters most is price. The per-kWh rates the council published, as reported by The Brighton Times (first published 10 October, updated 31 October 2026), cut overnight prices at every charger tier. Daytime prices fall at fast and rapid chargers, but standard daytime charging gets slightly more expensive.
The numbers: old Blink rates vs. new operator rates
The table below shows the council-published per-kWh rates as reported by The Brighton Times in October 2026. The percentage changes are ChargerFeed's own arithmetic, rounded to the nearest whole percent.
| Tier / time | Blink (before 15 Oct 2026) | New rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard, overnight | 55p | 39p (Char.gy) | -16p (about -29%) |
| Standard, daytime | 55p | 59p (Char.gy) | +4p (about +7%) |
| Fast, overnight | 55p | 41p (Believ) | -14p (about -25%) |
| Fast, daytime | 55p | 53p (Believ) | -2p (about -4%) |
| Rapid, overnight | 73p | 48p (Believ) | -25p (about -34%) |
| Rapid, daytime | 73p | 58p (Believ) | -15p (about -21%) |
Two points to keep in mind. First, the published table lists a single Blink price for each tier, 55p for standard and fast and 73p for rapid, while the new operators list separate overnight and daytime prices. How much a driver saves therefore depends on when they plug in. Second, The Brighton Times says the council's release does not define the overnight hours, and its 31 October update says Believ's update does not either. Until the operators state their time windows, drivers cannot tell exactly when the cheaper rate begins and ends.
The biggest cut in pence is at rapid chargers overnight, at 25p per kWh. The only increase is standard daytime charging, up 4p. The Brighton Times notes that a driver who can only charge on a standard chargepoint during the day will pay 4p per kWh more, while one who can charge overnight will pay 16p less.
Who runs what now
The council's notice splits the network between the two companies by charger type:
- Believ operates the existing Standard Plus and Rapid chargepoints. Standard Plus covers 7–22 kW units, and Rapid covers 50 kW-plus units, according to the Government & Public Sector Journal (GPSJ).
- Char.gy handles lamp-column charging. The council says Blink's lamp-column chargepoints are being decommissioned and replaced with new Char.gy chargepoints. They are not being transferred.
The council says both companies will also install new chargepoints as part of its wider EV infrastructure programme. The chargepoints can be used through the Believ and Char.gy apps and through compatible third-party charging apps.
How big is the network? It depends which count you use
The published figures count different things, so they need to be read with their dates.
- Believ, reported 30–31 October 2026: According to GPSJ, Believ has taken over more than 110 public chargers at more than 30 locations in Brighton and Hove. Named sites include Elm Grove, London Road Car Park and King Alfred Car Park. This count covers the standard-plus and rapid chargers Believ took over.
- Council figures, as reported by The Brighton Times on 10 October 2026: More than 500 public chargepoints in Brighton and Hove were to change hands on 15 October.
The sources do not explain the gap between the two numbers. The two figures count different things: the Brighton Times figure covers the standard, fast and rapid chargepoints Blink ran, including those being replaced by Char.gy, while the Believ figure covers only what Believ took over. "Chargers" and "chargepoints" may also be counted differently, since one charger can have more than one connector. Readers should treat the two figures as separate counts, not as one total.
Operating, being replaced, and planned
The announcements describe work at different stages:
- Operating now: Since 15 October 2026, the existing Standard Plus and Rapid chargepoints have been run by Believ, according to the council.
- Replacement under way: GPSJ reports that the rapid charging locations are undergoing equipment replacements, expected to be completed by the end of November 2026. The Brighton Times says some rapid bays may be out of use for short spells while the new units go in. Separately, Blink lamp-column units are being decommissioned and replaced by Char.gy. The sources give no completion date for the lamp-column swap.
- Planned: GPSJ reports that Believ is working with Brighton and Hove to install a further 210 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers, with deployment underway and completion due by the end of 2028. The sources do not give a site list or a schedule for them.
GPSJ also reports that 54% of Brighton and Hove residents do not have access to off-street parking and a means to charge privately, and it describes public charging as particularly important for drivers in the area.
What It Means for Drivers
Where you can charge: The existing Standard Plus and Rapid chargepoints formerly run by Blink, including the Elm Grove, London Road Car Park and King Alfred Car Park locations named by GPSJ, are now run by Believ. You access them through the Believ app or a compatible third-party app, according to the council. Lamp-column charging is moving to Char.gy, which you access through the Char.gy app or a compatible third-party app.
Old lamp-column units: The council says Blink's lamp-column chargers are being decommissioned, not handed over, and replaced with Char.gy chargepoints. While the swap is going on, the lamp-column charger you normally use may be out of service or may already have been replaced.
Rapid site disruption: GPSJ reports that equipment replacement at Believ's rapid sites is expected to finish by the end of November 2026, and The Brighton Times says Believ does not give dates for individual sites. If you rely on a particular rapid charger, check its status in the Believ app before you travel.
Prices: Under the council-published per-kWh rates reported in October 2026, overnight charging costs less at every tier: 39p for standard, 41p for fast and 48p for rapid. Daytime charging is cheaper at fast (53p) and rapid (58p) chargers. Standard daytime charging rises from 55p to 59p. Because the overnight hours have not been defined in what has been published, check the tariff shown in the operator's app before you start a session. Rates can change, and the figures here are the ones reported as of October 2026.
Your Blink app: The council says the chargepoints are now accessible via the Believ and Char.gy apps and compatible third-party charging apps. Drivers who only used Blink's app for these council sites will need another way to start sessions, so it is worth checking that your usual charging app works with the new operators.
