In a bid to push more drivers to electric vehicles, the government has revealed a new £63 million investment package to supercharge Britain’s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.
This includes a £25 million scheme for local authorities to help expand access to cheaper at-home charging. This will mean access to cheaper household rates, enabling consumers to save up to £1,500 a year compared to running a petrol or diesel car. The cross-pavement technology means cables can run under pavements, connecting homes directly to parked vehicles. It means families could see electricity rates for as little as 2p per mile, even if they do not have a driveway.
This will help ramp up the UK’s number of public chargepoints which recently hit a record 82,000, and is expected to climb by a further 100,000 through the government’s Local EV Infrastructure Fund.
Furthermore, to ensure the EV transition can bring savings to the public sector, NHS in England is receiving a major sustainability upgrade with an £8 million fund to power the electrification of ambulances and medical fleets across more than 200 NHS sites. This will see millions saved that can then be invested back into patient care.
It is also taking steps improve signage on major roads, with EV charging hubs to be signposted from major A-roads for the first time, as well as launching a major new grant scheme with businesses, helping them install charging points at depots nationwide.
