The government continues to allocate its Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund (LEVI) of 381 million pounds to councils, which can choose where best to install charging points in their local area.
Following the approval of the first five requests from local authorities in February, payments have been approved for an additional 44 councils from Torbay to Tees Valley, totaling over 185 million pounds, to assist residents in charging their cars.
The funding will support the deployment of thousands of points across England, made available to local authorities, landlords, and tenants on 18th March.
This initiative aims to make EV charging even more accessible.
“This dedicated funding for councils is part of our plan to ensure people can switch from petrol or diesel cars to electric vehicles when they choose to do so,” says Anthony Browne, Minister for Technology and Decarbonisation.
Additionally, local authorities previously allocated in the second round of LEVI funding can apply to the fund from 2nd April 2024, following those who received funding in the first round, further boosting the rollout of points.
“By strengthening our public charging network, we not only make EVs more accessible but also drive the transition towards a cleaner, greener future,” says Amanda Solloway, Minister for Affordability and Skills.
To further support electric vehicle drivers, the government ensures that households without exclusive parking access can access the EV charging grant.
In line with the commitment of the Driver’s Plan to make electric vehicles a more practical option, the 350 pounds grant will be extended to homeowners or renters with suitable on-street parking access.
This funding will reduce the cost of EV ownership by providing up to a 75 per cent discount on the purchase and installation of a point, with applicants also requiring permission from their council to install a cross-lane charging solution. Applications can be made online.
To assist councils in providing EV infrastructure, the government-funded Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Course will be fully launched this week following a successful trial.
The course is open to all local authorities and will cover key topics from technology to procurement.
LEVI funding has already helped place nearly 150 dedicated EV officers in councils to support the planning and delivery of charging points.
To ensure collaboration between the government and industry, the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Forum has also been launched.
Chaired by ministers and the AA president, Edmund King, it will discuss the best ways to address barriers and accelerate the delivery of charging infrastructure.
A broader membership will be established in due course.
“AA surveys show that one of the main reasons many drivers hesitate to switch to EVs is the perception that there are not enough charging points,” says Edmund King.
He continues, “To give drivers confidence now and in the future, we must overcome these barriers, which will help achieve cleaner and greener driving for all. Extending grants to those without off-street parking is a step in the right direction.”
More drivers are switching to zero-emission cars, and fully electric vehicles will account for over 16 per cent of the UK’s new car market in 2023, according to industry statistics.
The government and industry are working to rapidly install points, with 56,983 public dispositives installed across the UK, a 47 per cent increase compared to this time last year.
Today’s announcement follows the introduction of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate into law earlier this year, which is the most ambitious regulatory framework for the transition to EVs of any country in the world.
The ZEV mandate requires that 80 per cent of new cars and 70 per cent of new vans sold in Great Britain be zero-emission by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035, providing certainty for both consumers and the industry while also helping safeguard skilled jobs in the UK automotive sector.
