Speedy action needed on EVs charging (letter)

Published: 16 Jan 2020

By: NIC

Tagged:

A car parked in a bay reserved for charging electric vehicles

National Infrastructure Commission Chair Sir John Armitt has today written a letter to the editor of The Times, in response to its article on the challenge of preparing for the expected growth in electric vehicles in the UK, part of a series of articles on the theme of ‘Electric Britain’. The text of his published letter is reproduced below.


‘Sir, Your report on the challenge of charging electric cars (“The old-style petrol station will be replaced . . . but by what?”, The Times Business, Jan 14) highlights the need for solutions to help such vehicles go mainstream. A national rapid-charging network is vital to help drivers to make the switch from filling up to plugging in with confidence.

If we are going to aim for close to 100 per cent electric new car and van sales by 2030, as recommended in our National Infrastructure Assessment, speed is of the essence. Subsidising charging solutions in rural and hard-to-reach areas that are unlikely to be served by the market in the short term would send a strong signal of ministers’ intent.

The national infrastructure strategy to be published with the Budget in March is a chance for the government to do this as part of a comprehensive action plan to put electric vehicles at the heart of the UK’s net zero emissions strategy.’


In the National Infrastructure Assessment, published in July 2018, the Commission recommended a package of measures to prepare the UK for the growth of electric vehicle usage, including a recommendation that government, the regulator Ofgem and local authorities should enable the roll out of infrastructure to allow demand to reach close to 100 per cent electric new car and van sales by 2030.

Share this article

<

Recent Articles

Coming up in 2024
Thumbtack pins in calendar concept for busy, appointment and meeting reminder

Coming up in 2024

This page shows a calendar reflecting the latest expected dates for Commission reports, publications and events. You can also sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter by entering your email address in the box at the foot of each website page.

1 Feb 2024 By
Winser: NAO call for robust plan to boost low carbon heating “absolutely right”
picture of a heat pump by a wall

Winser: NAO call for robust plan to boost low carbon heating “absolutely right”

A National Audit Office report out today (18 March 2024) says heat pump installations are falling well below the level needed to meet the government’s targets of 600,000 units installed each year by 2028. The NAO says in response that a more robust plan from government and greater clarity on the future role if any...

18 Mar 2024 By
Government response on surface water flooding risk “does not meet scale of challenge”
A car splashes through a flooded Farringdon Lane in central London after a day of heavy rain.

Government response on surface water flooding risk “does not meet scale of challenge”

The government has today (13 March 2024) responded to the Commission’s study on reducing the risks of surface water flooding, published in November 2022. While it accepts the principles behind a number of the Commission’s recommendations, the government’s response – in the Commission’s view – makes few new commitments on steps to manage surface water...

13 Mar 2024 By
James Heath: urgent planning reform needed to remove “binding constraint” on UK’s economic future
A modern bridge over a dual carriageway cutting through British farmland

James Heath: urgent planning reform needed to remove “binding constraint” on UK’s economic future

James Heath, chief executive of the National Infrastructure Commission, spoke at the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects Forum in London yesterday (6 March). James offered the Commission’s view on the vital importance of speeding up the planning regime for major projects, given the need for pace in delivering tens of billions of pounds’ worth of schemes...

7 Mar 2024 By

Evidence_Icon_Turquoise Created with Sketch.

Explore data used in the Commission's research, and gain insights from across UK infrastructure

Join our team of professionals supporting the Commission to provide evidence based and forward thinking advice on infrastructure strategy.