Ambitious plans that set out how the Welsh Government will be
investing in infrastructure and working with the private sector
to give people in Wales the confidence to make the switch to
electric vehicles have been unveiled today.
With already more than 1,000 public charging points across Wales,
one for every six battery electric vehicles, the plans set out an
approach to ensure that the number of charging points continue to
grow to meet increasing demand as fossil fuel vehicles are phased
out.
The EV Charging Action Plan also sets out how the Welsh
Government will be working closely with the private sector, with
the aim of delivering a charging point facility for every 20
miles of the strategic trunk network across Wales by 2025,
providing further reassurance to electric vehicle drivers.
With transport generating around 17% of all carbon emissions in
Wales, improving electric vehicle infrastructure is just one step
that the Welsh Government is taking to reduce the impact
transport is having on both the environment and our health.
Llwybr Newydd, the Welsh Government’s transport strategy sets out
how we will shape our transport system in Wales over the next 20
years encouraging more people out of cars and using public
transport, walking or cycling.
Deputy Minister for Climate Change, with a responsibility for
transport, said:
“We need to do more in the next ten years than we’ve done in the
last thirty if we’re to reach our NetZero target by 2050.
Changing the car dependency culture that has been created in the
past and encouraging more people to use public transport will be
key, but for those essential car journeys, making the switch to
an electric vehicle is another way we can make a difference.
“The plan I’ve published today sets out the action we will be
taking to deliver high quality electric vehicle infrastructure
across Wales. Working with the private sector we have ambitious
plans in place to increase the number of charging points across
the country, so drivers feel confident to make the switch as
demand for electric vehicles increases.”
The Welsh Government’s Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV)
Transformation Fund has already provided a kick-start for many EV
projects across Wales.
Carmarthenshire Council was awarded a £350k grant to develop a
rapid charging facility on the A48 in Cross Hands. The
multi-point charging facility will serve one of the main tourist
routes through Wales. The facility comprises five rapid chargers
from 50kW to 150kW under a solar canopy with capacity for further
expansion and is expected to be operational later this year.
The next round of ULEV funding will open for bids in December
2021. The fund will help local authorities deliver more than 300
publicly accessible fast and rapid charging points across Wales
this financial year. There are also plans in place to
increase both public and private sector delivery in line with the
Welsh Government’s strategy in future years.
Notes to editors
Notes to editors
In April 2021 the Welsh Government published the Electric Vehicle
Charging Strategy, setting out its plans for charging electric
cars and vans in Wales. It is written within the context of
Llwybr Newydd: a new Wales Transport Strategy and establishes an
ambitious vision for charging in Wales.
Link to EV Charging Action Plan
https://gov.wales/electric-vehicle-charging-strategy-wales-action-plan
