UK businesses urge government for expansion of EV charging network

author: FutureCar Staff    

The UK Electric Fleets Coalition (UKEFC), managed by the Climate Group, a global non-profit organization, is calling on the government to ensure that the UK's charging infrastructure is capable of supporting the increasing number of businesses transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) and the growing number of EVs on the roads.

In a policy paper published today, the UKEFC has gained the support of 21 leading businesses, who are urging the government to take action to maintain the momentum of the UK's EV transition.

Currently, 30% of UK households do not have access to off-street parking, which means that they rely on on-street charging infrastructure. However, the slow deployment of on-street charging is due to a combination of planning rules, lack of action from local authorities, and insufficient data and information.

Fleet businesses are particularly concerned about the availability of kerbside charging. For company drivers who take their vehicles home, the lack of off-street parking poses a significant barrier to further EV adoption as it prevents them from charging their vehicles overnight.

Without the government recognizing the importance of kerbside charging infrastructure, UK businesses cannot make the necessary investments in EVs to meet their own commitments.

As the majority of new vehicle purchases are made by company fleets, UK businesses have a crucial role to play in the transition to EVs and are ready to take the lead. However, they require clarity and certainty from the government to support their increased investments in EVs, including the implementation of the zero-emission vehicle mandate, which will apply to vehicle sales from next year.

Sandra Roling, Director of Transport at the Climate Group, emphasizes the need for continued government leadership on EVs and outlines the steps that the government can take to facilitate increased investment in EVs by businesses.

Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach, highlights the commitment of his company to transition to a zero-emissions fleet by 2031 and the challenges they face, including the lack of public charging infrastructure and off-street parking for their engineers' vans. Selley calls on the government to step up and ensure that the charging network can support the UK's switch to electric vehicles.

FutureCar Staff