The UK government will be doubling its funding for electric charge points on residential streets, providing EV drivers without off-street parking with better access to charging infrastructure.
The additional £2.5m investment supports the government’s move towards net zero emissions by 2050. The funds will go towards the installation of over 1,000 new charge points, according to transport secretary Grant Shapps.
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The on-street residential charge point scheme was launched in 2017, designed to help provide access to EV charging near homes without access to off-street parking. The money will support local authorities to install the charge points, which can be built into existing structures like lamp posts.
The scheme has seen 16 local authorities prepared to install 1,200 chargepoints this year.
The scheme aims to encourage even more people to choose an electric vehicle by making it easier to charge their cars near home, following a 158% increase in battery electric vehicle sales compared to July last year.
“It’s fantastic that there are now more than 20,000 publicly accessible chargepoints and double the number of electric vehicle chargepoints than petrol stations, but we want to do much more,” said Grant Shapps.
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By GlobalData“It’s vital that electric vehicle drivers feel confident about the availability of chargepoints near their homes, and that charging an electric car is seen as easy as plugging in a smartphone. That’s why we are now doubling the funding available for local authorities to continue building the infrastructure we need to super-charge the zero emission revolution – right across the country.
“The allocation of funding for on-street residential chargepoints is part of the £1.5bn investment underpinned by the Road to Zero Strategy. The strategy consists of one of the most comprehensive packages of support for the transition to zero emission vehicles in the world, supporting the move towards a cleaner, greener, accessible and reliable UK transport network.”
Shapps added that the government is also investing £37m in British engineering to develop electric charge point infrastructure. “Innovations to receive investment include underground charging systems, solar powered charging forecourts and wireless charging projects,” he said. “Much like current mobile phone technology, wireless charging could mean an end to needing to plug your electric vehicle in.”
Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), said: “Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction, but it is vital that the Government continues to invest to improve the charging infrastructure currently available.
“The findings of our latest Consumer Attitude Survey suggested that ‘access to charging’ still represents a barrier to buying an electric vehicle for 53% of consumers. The charging process needs to become as straightforward as possible to give consumers the confidence to own an electric car.”
