Ofgem ‘powering the electric vehicle revolution’

07.50 | 25 May 2021 |

The UK’s energy regulator has announced £300m in funding for low carbon projects to ‘get Britain ready for more electric transport’, including to support the creation of 3,550 charging points.

The investment will be delivered in the next two years and is part of a wider plan to ensure Britain has the energy infrastructure needed to support the move to low carbon transport.

While electric car ownership is on the rise, Ofgem research has found that 36% of households that do not intend to get an electric vehicle are put off making the switch over a lack of charging points near their home.

The investment includes funding for motorway service areas and key trunk road locations across the country to get the cabling they need to install 1,800 new ultra-rapid charge points.

There are currently 918 ultra-rapid charge points in the UK – which can add a range of 100 miles to an electric car in around 30 minutes.

A further 1,750 charge points will be supported in towns and cities.

Ofgem says an extensive motorway charging network and more charging points in cities and train stations will help address ‘range anxiety’.

Jonathan Brearley, chief executive of Ofgem said: “The payment will support the rapid take up of electric vehicles which will be vital if Britain is to hit its climate change targets. Drivers need to be confident that they can charge their car quickly when they need to. 

“We’re paving the way for the installation of 1,800 ultra-rapid charge points, tripling the number of these public charge points. Drivers will have more charging options for longer journeys.”

In November 2020, the Government committed to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.

Earlier this month, it revealed the number of ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) registered for the first time more than doubled last year – despite the impact of Covid-19. 

This has taken the number of ULEVs on UK roads to more than 500,000.

Stats also published this month show as of 1 April 2021, there were 22,790 electric vehicle charging devices available to the public – an increase of nearly 10% on the previous quarter (October to December 2020).

Rachel Maclean, transport minister, said: “I warmly welcome the news from Ofgem, which will greatly improve the resilience of our charging network as we build back greener.  

“With more than 500,000 electric cars now on UK roads, this will help to increase this number even further as drivers continue to make the switch to cleaner, greener vehicles.”


 

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