NFDA: Additional chargepoint funding a ‘step in the right direction’

The organisation that represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers in the UK says it welcomes Transport Secretary Grant Shapps’s announcement that an additional £2.5 million will go towards to fund the installation of over 1,000 new charging points for electric vehicles. Sue Robinson, director of the National franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) comments “it is positive to see that the Government has announced additional funds for chargepoints on residential streets.”

The allocation of funding for on-street residential chargepoints is part of the £1.5 billion investment underpinned by the Road to Zero Strategy.

Transport Secretary Shapps said: “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.”

Additionally, in July, the Government announced that all newly installed rapid and higher powered chargepoints should provide debit or credit card payment by spring 2020.

Robinson continues: “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 per cent of consumers. The charging process needs to become as straightforward as possible to give consumers the confidence to own an electric car.

“NFDA will continue to liaise with the Government to support the development of the electric vehicle market through coordinated efforts where industry and sector stakeholders collaborate as in our Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) accreditation scheme.”