The government is aiming to get closer to net zero. One way they plan to do this is by reducing the number of emissions on the road. Transport in the UK is estimated to make up 27% of our carbon emissions with 18% of this coming from vehicles on the road.
Due to this, the government is making plans on how they can reduce the number of greenhouse gases this sector is providing.
Recently the government has announced that they are hoping to install around 300,000 electrical vehicle charges around the UK. The government has committed around £1.6 billion for the installation of these, this is 5 times the amount of fuel pumps that are on the road today.
This new investment will make charging easier and more affordable than refueling a petrol or diesel car. The strategy also covers ways people will be able to pay and compare prices of different charging points.
They also hope to make finding chargers easier for people. For example, people will be able to put in search terms such as "google maps EV charging stations" or use apps to make them easier to locate.
They hope by having this that more people will be encouraged to make the switch to electric vehicles over the next few years.
The 1.6 billion that is being spent will be split across many different projects. Around £500 million will go to the installation of public charge points across the UK. This includes the local electrical vehicle infrastructure (LEVI) which will fund local on-street charging points and hubs.
A further £950 million is being spent on the installation of around 6000 charging points across the UK motorways. Another £50 million will be used for research into challenges that may be faced by installing EV charges in local areas.
Local authorities will also be able to bid on up to £10 million to support remote areas with the installation of Ev chargers. To ensure that they can boost the public charging opportunities.
Prime minister Boris Johnson has said:
“We’re powering ahead with plans to help British people go electric, with our expanding charging network making journeys easier right across the country.”
“Clean transport isn’t just better for the environment but is another way we can drive down our dependence on external energy supplies. It will also create new high-skilled jobs for our automotive and energy sectors and ultimately secure more sustainable and affordable motoring for all.”
The Transport secretary Grant Shapps has also spoken on the matter saying:
“No matter where you live – be that a city center or rural village, the north, south, east, or west of the country – we’re powering up the switch to electric and ensuring no one gets left behind in the process.
“The scale of the climate challenge ahead of us all is well known, and decarbonizing transport is at the very heart of our agenda… That’s why we’re ensuring the country is EV fit for future generations by the end of this decade, revolutionizing our charging network and putting the consumer first.”
Although the government seems positive that this innovation is going to change the future of EVs and give the country a pathway to cleaner roads there are still some concerns.
Firstly, some are concerned with the growing number of EVs on the road and whether the number of chargers is going to meet the demand of drivers. With the ban on new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, many people are going to want to be driving electric vehicles over the next few years. However people are not going to make the switch if there is not a charging point that is accessible and convient for them to use.
The AA has suggested that more people would be confident in using electric cars if the infrastructure was clearer. They believe getting this in order is vital to advance to the 2030 deadline for new low-carbon vehicles.
The car manufacturer Vauxhall also commented on the issue stating that the government has missed an opportunity with the rising EVs across the country. They have stated that having public confidence within the new charging network is key. The public is not certain about the government’s plan yet due to no binding targets being set on the rollout of the charging infrastructure.
In conclusion, this plan is possible to help reduce the number of carbon emissions on the road. However, it is essential that the infrastructure keeps up with demand or leads demand to remove customer fears of charging anxiety.
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