In a push to speed up Britain’s transition to green motoring, two million motorists without private driveways are being urged to prepare for major upheaval. Authorities have revealed ambitious proposals to roll out more than 100,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout England, mainly focusing on those unable to charge at home.
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood journeyed to Exeter to celebrate a significant landmark in the deployment, branding it a “chargepoint every 29 minutes”.
This revelation comes alongside confirmation that charging company Believ is pumping £300 million into adding 30,000 additional units – a development praised by officials as a way to “support drivers and protect jobs”.
Ms Greenwood said: “This government is powering up the EV revolution by rolling out a chargepoint every 29 minutes.
“Our support to roll out over 100,000 local chargepoints in England shows we’re committed to making even more progress,” reports the Mirror.
The programme seeks to help the more than two million drivers in England living in terraced properties or apartments who find it difficult to charge their EVs conveniently close to their residences.
The measure arrives as ministers encounter growing demands to meet environmental objectives and silence detractors who argue that Britain falls short in establishing charging infrastructure.
The government is preparing to bolster the roll-out of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure with a substantial £381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund.
This fund is designed to assist local authorities and industry in establishing chargers on residential streets, car parks, and local hubs.
“This is part of our £4 billion investment to support drivers make the switch, while backing British carmakers through international trade deals – creating jobs, boosting investment and securing our future,” stated Ms Greenwood.
The initiative comes as critics have long highlighted that one of the main obstacles to EV adoption is the lack of convenient and reasonably priced charging options, which leaves many motorists reluctant to give up their petrol or diesel vehicles.
Guy Bartlett, CEO of Believ, said: “It’s fantastic to see government and private industry working together to accelerate the EV charging rollout. Collaboratively, we recognise the scale of investment required and the urgency of the need. Confidence in EVs will continue to grow as drivers see more infrastructure going into the ground.”
Suffolk County Council became the first local authority to sign an agreement with a charging point operator under this fresh scheme, with high hopes that other councils will follow suit shortly.
Officials are confident that these measures will not only boost the charging infrastructure but also deliver real savings for motorists, highlighting that powering an EV at home could cost as little as 2p per mile, potentially saving drivers up to £1,110 each year.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly affordable, with prices falling to the extent that nearly half of second-hand electric cars available are priced under £20,000.
Furthermore, there are now 29 brand-new models available for less than £30,000, many capable of travelling almost 300 miles on a single charge – sufficient “to get from London to Newcastle on a single charge”, as ministers are eager to emphasise.
To strengthen consumer trust in EVs further, the UK Government is actively pursuing trade agreements with major players including the US, India, and the EU.
These international deals are designed to protect 150,000 positions within the vital automotive and steel industries.
This drive for stronger trade partnerships comes hot on the heels of the recent announcement of a substantial £1 billion investment in a brand-new gigafactory in Sunderland, a development anticipated to generate an remarkable 1,000 positions.
These measures are part of what ministers have termed a comprehensive “Plan for Change”, a blueprint designed not only to boost the purchasing power of hard-working families throughout Britain but also to guarantee the country achieves its ambitious climate change targets.