50,000 public EV chargepoints installed in UK – DfT

The UK’s Department for Transport has hailed “another step on the road to zero emission driving” with new statistics showing that 52,602 public chargepoints have been installed across the country.  This figure, supplied by Zapmap, represent a 44 per cent increase on the equivalent number at this time in 2022. The DfT added that the statistic shows the country is “on track” to reach its target of 300,000 public chargepoints by 2030.

The UK’s zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which requires 80 per cent of new cars and 70 per cent of new vans sold in Great Britain to be zero emission by 2030, comes into effect in 2024. It says the mandate “ensures the country will have the most ambitious regulatory framework for the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) in the world.”

The UK recently put back its deadline for the end of new internal combustion engine-powered vehicles (ICE) from 2030 to 2035, which aligns the country with other major global economies, including France, Germany, Sweden and Canada. The DfT said the mandate “is providing the certainty needed to safeguard skilled British jobs in the car industry and is allowing the private sector to scale up investment in charging infrastructure.” The perceived lack of enough chargepoints has been a major drag on demand for EVs, according to auto industry observers. That said, EVs currently make up 16 per cent of the new car market, which is above the 13 per cent European Union average.

Technology and decarbonisation minister Anthony Browne said: “Passing 50,000 public chargepoints is a key milestone in our journey to zero emission driving and shows the incredible progress we’ve made to provide the infrastructure for drivers to go electric.

“With Government and private sector investment, we are backing drivers by expanding our charging network – creating jobs and putting us well on the way to our target of 300,000 public chargepoints by 2030.”

The DfT added that the approach has attracted investment in gigafactories and EV manufacturing, including Nissan’s recent investment of over £3 billion to develop two new electric vehicles at their Sunderland plant, Tata’s investment of over £4 billion in a new 40 GWh gigafactory, BMW’s investment of £600m to build next generation Mini EVs in Oxford, Ford’s investment of £380 million in Halewood to make Electric Drive Units, and Stellantis’ £100m investment in Ellesmere Port for EV van production.

Under the DfT’s Plan for Drivers, the department says it intends to consult “on ways to make installations cheaper and quicker for chargepoint operators, review the grid connections process for chargepoints, and also consult on the expansion of permitted development rights to make installations easier.” Access to the country’s electricity grid will also receive an overhaul under the government’s Connections Action Plan, increasing the pace at which operators can install chargepoints.

Government is currently assessing bids for grants from an initial £381 million available via the local EV Infrastructure Fund to deliver “tens of thousands more chargepoints” for public use. In addition, the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) is open to all UK local authorities. Grants are also available to help businesses make the transition through the Government’s Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), as well as people in flats and rented accommodation through the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant.

Government has also passed laws mandating transparent pricing and open operator data, increasing accessibility to public EV charging options.