EV charging rollout, is predicated on the Government overcoming delays. A recent report published by the public accounts committee (PAC) reveals that the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) chargers across Britain is “patchy”, behind deadline and ignores the needs of disabled drivers.
The parliamentary committee warned that the charging points needed to give drivers’ confidence for the switch to EVs were still lacking, particularly on Britain’s biggest roads. It warned that the rollout risked “baking serious injustice” into the nation’s infrastructure, with drivers with disabilities “left behind” and those reliant on public chargers left paying much more than those able to charge at home.
The PAC report said the government was on track to reach a promised target of 300,000 charging points by 2030, but there were stark regional divides, with too few installed outside south-east England and London, where 43% of public chargers are located. Drivers reliant on public charge points also pay significantly more, partly due to higher rates of VAT, levied at 20% compared with 5% for domestic bills – exacerbating inequalities for those who live in flats or houses without off-street parking.Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Chair of the Committee, said: “It is welcome to see the EV charging roll-out beginning to ramp up, with all the implicit benefits that bearing down on emissions will bring. But this roll-out is not currently taking place equally across the nation. Meeting numerical targets for charging points is all very well. Delivering thousands of points allowing Londoners to easily zip around the capital while leaving the rest of the UK’s network patchy is obviously an outcome to be avoided. Drivers need confidence that they can use an EV without any risk of getting stranded, or they won’t make the switch. It is imperative that the motorway network has a complete range of charging points as soon as possible to provide some confidence to drivers who wish to travel about the entire country….”
Meanwhile a third (revised) planning application has been submitted to North Yorkshire Council by Booths in Settle for a further EV charger rollout which will give, if successful, four rapid EC chargers in its car park. The new application includes amendments to the site layout.