Councils to install more than 16,500 charging points. Subscribe to Electric Vehicle News Bitesize Podcast for FREE!
UK local authorities will install more than 16,500 electric vehicle charging points over the next 12 months, doubling the number of public charging points currently installed.
The investigation, part of British Gases Freedom of Information request to more than 400 UK councils, 195 of which answered all questions, found that local authorities have installed 16,680 Electric Vehicle charging points to date, with plans for future a 16,563 more installed in 12 months.
It shows that the charging capacity of electric vehicles will more than double in five regions and countries in the UK.
London reported the highest uplift in charger numbers (101% increase from 7,848 to 15,753) followed the East of England (131% increase from 974 to 2,254), the North-West (450% increase from 375 to 2,064), the South-West (172% increase from 533 to 1,455) and Wales (101% increase from 394 to 793).
A smaller uplift in charge point installations is expected from councils across the South-East (98% increase from 1,686 to 3,345), Yorkshire (94% increase from 478 to 931), the North-East (83% increase from 424 to 780), the Midlands (67% increase from 1,180 to 2937), and Scotland (40% increase from 2,137 to 3,039).
Despite plans to increase capacity, figures show 24 local authorities currently have no plans to install Electric Vehicle charging stations in the next 12 months, with the majority (70%) located outside London and the South East.
Kim Royds, director of EVs at British Gas, said: “Electrifying the UK’s transport systems is a key component of its journey to net zero, and universal adoption of EVs will only be possible if the charging capacity is there to support it.
“It’s incredibly encouraging to see council investment in public charging infrastructure gather momentum.
“Local councils have an important role to play in expanding the UK’s Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure, giving drivers access to publicly available charge points in every town and city in the UK.
“Of course, alongside this we will need investment in home charging too in order to ensure that we create a robust charging network that enables everyone to benefit from an electric future.”
The 24 councils that expressed no plans to install charging points in the next 12 months are: East Cambridgeshire; Lancaster; East Hampshire; Havant; Lancashire; Surrey Heath; Melton; Erewash; Central Bedfordshire; Maidstone; Calderdale; Knowsley; Peterborough; Dartford; Somerset West and Taunton; Midlothian; Lincoln; Orkney; Test Valley; Fenland; Mid Ulster; City of London; Ribble Valley; and Bolsover.
The government recently launched the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure pilot scheme, which aims to provide residents with commercial Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure, from faster roadside charging stations to larger gas station-style charging stations.
Nine local authorities will receive a £20m stake in a new pilot project to install more than 1,000 public charging stations.
Please give Electric Vehicle News Bitesize Podcast a 5 Star Review to help us grow our audience.
Subscribe to the Electric Vehicle News Bitesize Podcast for FREE on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Deezer, Breaker, Castbox, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Audible, Gaana, Samsung Podcasts, Google News and the Electric Vehicle News Bitesize Alexa Skill.
For more Articles and Episodes search Stellantis boss calls for tariffs on Chinese EVs.
