Analysis

Get to the point

The Government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy pledges to increase the UK’s EV charge points 10-fold. Natalie Middleton looks at the detail of the deal

The UK Government has committed to reaching 300,000 public EV charge points by 2030 –equivalent to almost five times the number of fuel pumps on the country’s roads today.

The plans reinforce the Government’s aim to expand the UK’s charging network, so that it is “robust, fair and covers the entire country” – as well as improving the consumer experience at all charge points, with significant support focused on those without access to off-street parking, and on fast charging for longer journeys.

The strategy is supported by a £1.6bn investment in charging infrastructure pledged in part when the 2030 ban was announced and is expected to remove the key barriers to EV driving by making charging easier and cheaper than refuelling a petrol or diesel car.

The funding also included a £500m investment to bring high quality, competitively priced public charge points to communities across the UK. This includes a new £450m Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund for local authorities to use to expand charge point provision in their area. The other £50m will be used to fund staff to work on local challenges and public charge point planning.

A pilot scheme for the LEVI fund will see local authorities bid for a share of £10m in funding, allowing selected areas to work with industry and boost public charging opportunities.

Alongside this, the existing £950m Rapid Charging Fund will support the rollout of at least 6,000 high-powered super-fast charge points across England’s motorways by 2035, bringing access to rapid and ultra-rapid public chargers.

The industry reaction

The BVRLA welcomed the new strategy, which it said addresses many of the key concerns facing charge point users and will help underpin the seismic shift to zero-emission road transport.

Chief executive Gerry Keaney said: “This strategy is a major step forward that will give greater confidence to the millions of road users that need to make the switch to electric over the next decade. The recognition for the mix of different charging solutions is crucial. It is not simply about having more chargers, we need the right solutions, placed strategically to be accessible to all drivers.”

And while Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder and COO, Zap-Map,said the strategy would help address the current ‘postcode lottery’ on access to charge points – she added that we should focus not on the overall number of charge points but on the nature and location of provision.

“As more drivers make the switch to electric, fewer proportionally will have home chargers and as a result be reliant on the public network for dayto-day charging. This is where the local charging initiatives are critical, whether this is low-powered on-street provision for overnight charging or local charging hubs. In parallel, the enroute rapid charging network needs to continue to grow with a greater number of charge points at each location, to provide high-speed, reliable charging for all.”

The SMMT also said that focus must be given to expanding public on-street and destination charging provision.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, commented: “Every stakeholder will have to play their part in this transition but, if industry and consumers are to have the certainty they need to invest, commensurate and binding targets must be set for infrastructure provision. Deployed nationally and at pace, this expansion would give drivers confidence they will be able to charge as easily as they would refuel, wherever they are.”