UK government aims for 300,000 EV chargers by 2030

The UK government has outlined plans to increase the number of public EV chargers tenfold by 2030, which would see the equivalent of "five times the number of fuel pumps" roadside today.

The 300,000 new chargepoints are stated to come as part of an expansion to the government's 'Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy' by some £1.6bn, with £500m in-hand to provide "high quality, competitively priced chargepoints to communities across the UK".

This comes on top of the existing 'Rapid Charging Fund' with 6,000 'super-fast' chargepoints earmarked for English motorways by 2035.

READ MORE: Formula E's sustainability drive

“Clean transport isn’t just better for the environment, but is another way we can drive down our dependence on external energy supplies,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. “It will also create new high-skilled jobs for our automotive and energy sectors and ultimately secure more sustainable and affordable motoring for all.”

Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders boss Mike Hawes added: “Consumers already have certainty about the vehicles, with ever-increasing choice, thanks to billions of pounds of manufacturer investment, but charging infrastructure must keep pace with the rapid growth of sales of these cars.

“The EV infrastructure strategy points in the right direction, addressing problems with the current customer charging experience and setting out a nationally co-ordinated, locally delivered plan which aims to ‘build ahead of need’.”

London's sustainability drive

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship heads to London on 30 & 31 July for a double-header in the UK's capital, and the city has set a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 and the its Transport for London public transit authority by 2030, with the UK set to phase out sales of petrol and diesel vehicles entirely by 2035. In 2020, the country at large saw renewables make up the majority of its energy mix for the first time ever, at 43%.

The city now has some 6,000 EV chargers itself, and expanded its London Ultra Low Emission Zone late in 2021. ULEZ results in nitrogen dioxide cuts of up to 50 per cent by restricting polluting vehicles' access. Its expansion out of central London into surrounding boroughs will benefit 3.8 million more people.