Monday, January 23, 2023 6:00 a.m
The UK government is on track to meet its target of delivering 300,000 public electric vehicle chargers by 2030, a new report published today shows.
A study by the transport organization New Automotive shows that the target will be met despite the auto industry’s skepticism about the strong demand for electric vehicles.
According to recent data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the transition to electric vehicles (EV) has slowed recently.
“This steadier, less rapid growth has impacted the domestic charging industry, which is feeling the effects of slower growth first through a drop in demand for home charging units,” the report said.
Other obstacles to growth include a lack of support from local authorities, pressures in the supply chain and grid connection issues such as e.g.
Still, New Automotive believes the government can achieve its targets – first unveiled in March 2022 by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“Adoption is progressing at a reasonable pace, growing by a third every 12 months, and the UK is on track to meet the government’s target of 300,000 public chargers by 2030,” said one of the report’s authors, Ciara Cook .
According to Cook, ministers can accelerate adoption by prioritizing a strong Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate.
The ZEV mandate, announced in October 2021, will legally oblige manufacturers to net-zero a certain percentage of cars sold.
The Department for Transport (DfT) launched a consultation on the mandate last year, but the results have yet to be made public.
The DfT said: “Vehicle manufacturers, the charging industry and energy providers play a crucial role in the transition to cleaner vehicles and we continue to work closely with the wider industry to help shape future regulations.”
