Only a quarter of councils have EV transition plan

Only a quarter of local authorities in the UK have published Electric Vehicle transition strategies, despite being encouraged to do so by the government.

Freedom of Information requests carried out by the FairCharge campaign show that only 28 per cent of local authorities have published EV transition strategies, with a further 23 per cent in the process of devising a strategy.

The Government’s EV Infrastructure Strategy said that ministers would put ‘an obligation on local authorities (subject to consultation) to develop and implement local charging strategies to plan for the transition to a zero emission vehicle fleet’.

The Strategy also stated that ‘local leadership is essential to creating new investment opportunities and inspiring local confidence in EVs’ and that ‘without consistent prioritisation of charging infrastructure deployment across the country, some areas are at risk of being left behind’.

FairCharge has stressed the importance of central government taking a more active role in driving public charging provision to ensure the benefits of the EV revolution could be harnessed by all – not just those with access to off-street parking. It has also been highlighting the other barriers that those without access to off-street residential parking are facing if they are to make the switch to EVs, including leading a push to reduce the 20 per cent VAT rate on public charging so that it is equal to the five per cent rate for those who charge at home off-street.

FairCharge spokesman Quentin Willson said: “The figures revealed from councils in our Freedom of Information requests are extremely worrying. BEIS and DfT say that local authorities are best placed to consider local needs, and this of course is true, but we can see today that without a big role for central government in supporting councils, there is a real chance that much of country will be left behind in terms of public charging infrastructure. Councils clearly need to up their game too, but their needs to be direction and oversight from central government.

“The figures are so concerning because they mean that many people – such as those without driveways – will be hindered from taking part in the EV revolution. This is simply unfair, and will hold us back in our efforts to decarbonise transport. Our FairCharge campaign is seeking to ensure the benefits of EVs are felt by all. The government should waste no time in placing a statutory duty on local authorities to produce EV transition strategies.”