The Government has announced a £63m investment in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, including better provisions for on-street charging, better signage for EV charging hubs, and electrified ambulances for more NHS fleets.
£25m will be allocated to local authorities to expand access to home charging, by installing cross-pavement charging cable grooves, enabling households without a driveway to charge an EV.
The Government also announced a grant scheme for businesses, which will support the installation of EV charging infrastructure at depots for HGVs, vans, and coaches.
£8m will be provided to the NHS, bringing electrified ambulances to more than 200 NHS sites, and adding 1,200 new charging sockets.
EV signage will also be rolled out across major roads as part of the investment, allowing EV drivers to find charging more easily.
The UK currently has 82,000 public EV charge points, with the Government pledging to install an extra 100,000 by 2030.
The Government also recently launched DRIVE35, a £2.5bn plan to accelerate EV manufacturing in the UK.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “We are making it easier and cheaper to own an electric vehicle.
“We know access to charging is a barrier for people thinking of making the switch, so we are tackling that head on so that everyone – whether or not they have a driveway – can access the benefits of going electric.
“Our investment is about more than just charging points – it’s about charging up Britain’s economy.
“I’m proud that through this boost, we are helping deliver cheaper bills for families, massive savings for the NHS to reinvest in patient care, and thousands of new green jobs.”
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “There are more public chargers than people realise, but they are often hidden in plain sight.
“Increasing signs for the public network is vital to help the EV transition as it will create confidence for drivers both now and in the future.
“It is great to see more support for those without off-street parking so that they can also benefit from the EV revolution.”
