According to recent reports, the United Kingdom plans to increase the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to 300,000 by 2030. This will increase the current number of charging stations in the country tenfold. The report also claims that this target will need an investment of no less than £1.6 billion.
The plan includes providing fast-charging stations for long-distance travel. The previously announced fast charging fund has invested £950 million to build a network of more than 6,000 fast-charging stations along England’s motorways network by 2035. According to the strategy, 500 million pounds has been allocated for the establishment of charging stations in communities and streets.
Additionally, the new rules will mean EV drivers can use contactless payment methods to recharge, compare prices and use the app to find stops. The UK is set to ban the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles by 2030. Thus, a wider charging network is crucial for the transition to electric vehicles. In addition to the environmental benefits of electric vehicles, the UK government says the scheme creates jobs and reduces the UK’s reliance on foreign energy and oil sources.
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Gill Nowell, head of Electric Vehicle at LV= General Insurance, said… “This strategy shows the government’s ambition for electric cars. However, more still needs to be done in order to help people feel comfortable to make the switch to electric…It’s vital that charging provision is rolled out equitably across the UK, and that those who cannot charge at home are not disadvantaged by having to pay more than those who can. Additionally, there has to be a flexible approach undertaken to truly ensure that the right chargers are located in the right place to meet changing needs, and crucially are safe to use and accessible to everyone.”
Hugo Griffiths of car trading site Carwow claims that expanding the charging network needs to keep pace with rising demand. His words
“One in six new car registrations in the UK in 2021 was an EV or plug-in hybrid vehicle. This is up from one in 10 the previous year. Also, our own data shows that searches for electric cars rose by 37% in just a week in March…”
“But the charging infrastructure for EVs is not keeping pace with the rapid growth in interest and sales. Unfortunately, this is preventing many people from making that switch. We’ve believe that ‘not enough charging points’ is the top concern about EVs for 43% of motorists.
“Sales of new petrol and diesel car sales will be banned by 2030. This means that the targets were always going to have to increase. This latest announcement will not only be welcome news for existing EV owners but could also help convince any motorists…Two-thirds of motorists say they would consider an EV due to the lower running costs”
