The release of new data from the Department for Transport today
has revealed that just 107 local authorities across the UK have
successfully applied for On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme
(ORCS), with just 2,869 currently installed*. Funding for a
further 9,543 has been approved and will be delivered in the
coming years.
It means that there are huge blackholes across the country where
drivers without dedicated off-street residential parking would be
reliant on the public charging network or workplace charging
should their employer have it.
The AA is calling for an urgent boost in on-street charging to
help the 40% of households without a driveway, parking space or
garage take part in the transition to electric cars.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said; “Drivers
without dedicated off-street parking looking to switch to
electric cars want to have the option for cheaper, affordable
charging close to home rather than be reliant on the rapid
network.
“The transition to electric needs to convince people that they
can easily find a charge, but we need a mix of charging speeds to
make life simple for everyone. But there are huge swathes of the
country without any on-street charging and that needs to be
rectified urgently.
“Earlier this year, the government said it would need a minimum
of 125,000 on-street chargepoints** and acknowledged that the the
current progression in this area was too slow. Very little has
changed in order to meet this target.
“So much focus has been placed on the rapid and ultra-rapid
network but many will be crying out for action closer to home. We
are also concerned that rural areas could be left miles behind as
on-street charging is often considered to be just an urban
problem.”
ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
* Electric vehicle charging
device grant scheme statistics: July 2022 - GOV.UK
(www.gov.uk)
**https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1065576/taking-charge-the-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-strategy.pdf
