A motoring expert has called on the Government to avoid creating chaos with a newly announced law which aims to boost the number of electric vehicle chargers across the UK.
Labour’s new Planning and Infrastructure Bill will bring about the “biggest building boom” in a generation through new planning reforms outlined today.
The Bill aims to speed up planning decisions to boost housebuilding, remove unnecessary blockers and challenges to the delivery of vital developments, and boost economic growth.
It outlines that the Bill will “streamline the process to install EV charging infrastructure to help meet our net zero ambitions”.
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A leading expert has called on Labour to ensure they are moving forward with EV charger plans
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The latest data from Zapmap shows there are 75,675 charging devices around the UK, with more than 110,000 connectors to help electric vehicle drivers.
Experts are optimistic that the UK will meet the Government’s net zero goals to have 300,000 public chargers installed by the end of the decade.
While the majority of charging is done at home or at work, public chargers remain crucial to drivers to have confidence on longer journeys, with range anxiety still impacting petrol and diesel vehicle owners.
Labour continues to pledge more money for local authorities to install more public chargers around the country, in addition to private investment from some of the largest charge point operators.
With the focus on streamlining the process to install chargers, likely through the removal of red tape and planning permission, experts are calling for a clear focus on the goal of installing more chargers.
Research from Close Brothers Motor Finance found that more than a quarter of motorists (28 per cent) find the lack of charging infrastructure a lingering concern, which would impact their ability to own an electric vehicle.
John Cassidy, managing director of sales at Close Brothers Motor Finance, said: “This is a step in the right direction to encourage a shift towards EVs, which is key to meeting the Government’s own net zero ambitions.
“Removing these barriers will play an important role in supporting the transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles.”
He welcomed the announcement from Labour, but noted that it had to install more chargers or unveil more incentives to ensure motorists are not blocked from adopting electric vehicles.
Cassidy added: “The Government needs to consider wider measures to avoid shooting itself in the foot.
“The impending removal of the EV exemptions from Vehicle Excise Duty and the Expensive Car Supplement will make EV ownership more expensive and unappealing for potential buyers.”
Electric vehicle owners will have to pay car tax for the first time from April 1, after former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt called for a fairer system of taxation for all road users.
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Rachel Reeves confirmed new car tax changes in the Autumn Statement last October
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Current Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that the Government was supporting drivers switch to zero emission vehicles with better first year VED rates.
While new electric vehicles will pay a first year rate of just £10, the most polluting petrol and diesel vehicles could face costs as high as £5,490.
