- The United Kingdom’s 55,000 public chargers are set to be on the up, with the Department for Transport announcing new funding and regulations for private and public EV charging.
- This includes new grants for state-funded schools and nurseries, to assist with the cost of on-site EV chargepoints.
- Five more local authorities will also receive funding for the installation of public chargers, through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund.
More EV charging stations ahead of the 2035 deadline
With the UK on track to mandate the sale of fully electric passenger cars by 2035, and EVs making up 16% of all new car sales last year, more chargepoints will be needed over the coming years – and the government has brought in new legislation in an attempt to further speed up the growth of the country’s EV charging infrastructure. Schools within Nottinghamshire will now be able to take advantage of a new grant, allowing them to claim 75% of the purchase and installation costs of chargepoints, up to a maximum value of £2,500 per charger. The previous grant cap per socket was just £350.
Furthermore, the government has also announced that it is looking into ways to further speed up EV charger installations in the future. This could include allowing chargepoint operators to carry out construction work with a permit instead of the conventional licence required, reducing time and costs for operators, while the law that states that charging points cannot be located within two metres of a public highway may also be removed.
Speaking on the developments, Anthony Browne, Minister for Technology and Decarbonisation, said:
“We’re getting on with delivering our Plan for Drivers, and this latest set of measures will mean EV owners everywhere benefit from easier and more convenient access to chargepoints. This Government has already spent over £2bn to ensure a smooth switch to EVs, and we’re committed to supporting drivers as we transition towards net zero in a proportionate way that doesn’t burden working people.”
