Experts have unveiled a 12-point plan to boost the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the UK.
ChargeUK, Britain’s electric vehicle market leader, has published its election manifesto, calling on the next government to accelerate plans to install more EV chargers.
ChargeUK has publicly committed to investing more than £6 billion by 2030 to deliver world-class charging infrastructure, which is currently growing at 45 percent year-on-year.
The organization has focused on three main themes with the overarching goal of giving people across the country the confidence to switch to an electric vehicle in the coming years.
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ChargeUK has called on the government to reduce VAT rates for public chargers
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ChargeUK has called on the Government to remove the electricity grid, planning and licensing challenges and include renewable electricity in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Scheme.
The intention is also to equalize VAT on public charging costs, by reducing it from 20 percent to five percent, so that it remains the same as the VAT rate on home chargers.
This would go hand in hand with encouraging cheaper electricity, improving signage at charging stations and launching incentives to help people buy or lease electric vehicles.
The organization also aims to maximize private investment by clarifying the Rapid Charging Fund, accelerating the use of the Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund and addressing significant increases in fixed costs.
Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK, praised the development of electric vehicle charging in the UK, with more than 60,000 charging points already installed.
She added: “This, combined with more than half a million home and workplace chargers, means that today’s EV drivers can be assured that the charging infrastructure will be there for them.
“One in three of these public chargers were installed in the past year, underscoring the pace at which the rollout is taking place.”
However, Read outlined how ChargeUK wanted to go further and install more EV chargers across the country faster, so drivers have the confidence to switch to an electric vehicle.
While there are hopes that Britain will install its 100,000th EV charger next year, there are still fears among some that other milestone targets will be missed.
The original government target for installations was unveiled a few years ago and stated that there would be 300,000 chargers active and in use by the end of the decade.
This was the same deadline to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles, until Prime Minister Rishi Sunak postponed the pledge until 2035.
Read continued, saying, “We also know that our infrastructure must be easy for motorists to use and affordable.
“Our manifesto sets out a comprehensive plan to support the UK’s transition to net zero, ensuring easy and affordable charging for all drivers.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
There are more than 60,000 EV chargers across Britain
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ChargeUK’s full manifesto
1. Speed up grid connections by agreeing on a voluntary code with all grid operators, introducing regulations if necessary.
2. Ensure that the outreach regime supports timely deployment, by enabling CPOs to use permits in place of Section 50 licenses and avoiding unnecessary use of Section 115e licenses.
3. In England, extend permitted development rights to essential supporting infrastructure (such as substations) and increase charging height, to reflect Scotland’s approach to charging infrastructure.
4. Include renewable electricity in the renewable transportation fuel obligation, creating a market-based mechanism to support private investment at no cost to taxpayers.
5. Equalize VAT at five percent for public and private levies – giving those who cannot levy at home access cheaper levies.
6. Reform the wholesale electricity market to encourage more sustainable, cheaper and competitive electricity generation.
7. Work with industry and national highways to develop standard loading signs and ensure their widespread use on the strategic road network and other major roads.
8. Continue and possibly expand current incentives that help people make the switch to electric vehicles, whether they purchase or lease new, used, or electric vehicles.
9. Urgently confirm the design of the Rapid Charging Fund to remove uncertainty and address market disruption.
10. Ensure that local authorities deploy funding for local EV infrastructure quickly and provide clearer guidelines for resident consultation when choosing charging points.
11. Address the recent significant increases in fixed costs, which have increased costs for CPOs by as much as 300 percent.
12. Commit to working with industry as the fleet, eLVC and eHGV markets continue to evolve.