- Streets up and down the country set for more electric
vehicle chargepoints thanks to multimillion pound Government
investment
- Transport Secretary urges local councils to take advantage
of the scheme as more drivers make the switch to electric
- Funding could double the number of on-street chargepoints
Government is supporting to nearly 8,000
Local authorities are being urged to take advantage of a
£20million cash injection to boost the number of on-street
electric vehicle chargepoints in towns and cities across the
UK.
In a letter to councils across Britain, Transport Secretary
has today (2 February) announced that funding for
theOn-Street Residential
Chargepoint Scheme(ORCS) will continue into 2021/22,
allowing residents without private parking to reliably charge
their vehicle.
Since its inception in 2017, more than 140 local authority
projects have benefitted from the scheme, which has supported
applications for nearly 4,000 chargepoints across the UK. This
funding boost could double that, adding nearly 4000 more
chargepoints in our towns and cities, tackling poor air quality
and supporting economic growth as we build back greener from
the pandemic.
Local councils play an essential role in providing EV
infrastructure and so in partnership withEnergy Saving Trust, the
Department for Transport is welcoming applications from
councils which are yet to apply for funding, as well as those
that have already benefitted.
Transport Secretary
said:
“From Cumbria to Cornwall, drivers across the country should
benefit from the electric vehicle revolution we’re seeing
right now.
“With a world-leading charging network, we’re making it
easier for more people to switch to electric vehicles,
creating healthier neighbourhoods and cleaning up our air as
we build back greener.”
The UK is already a global frontrunner in the shift to electric
vehicles. The Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan set out that we
will accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, ending the
sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, which
could create 40,000 extra jobs by 2030, and transforming our
national infrastructure to better support electric vehicles,
backed by a total of £2.8 billion and supporting around 169,000
jobs. Of this funding, £1.3 billion is set to be invested in
charging infrastructure over the next four years.
, senior programme manager at Energy Saving Trust,
said:
“The confirmation of £20m of funding for the On-street
Residential Chargepoint Scheme in 2021/22 is great news. This
funding will allow local authorities to install convenient
and cost effective electric vehicle charging infrastructure
for those who rely on on-street parking. This helps to
support the fair transition to the increased adoption of low
carbon transport.
“We’re therefore encouraging local authorities to access this
funding as part of their plans to decarbonise transport and
improve local air quality.”
