ChargeUK, the trade association representing companies that install and operate the charge points enabling the UK’s transition to electric vehicles, has published its election manifesto - Our Electric Future: ChargeUK's manifesto for the next government.
It is calling on the next government to adopt 12 measures that will accelerate the roll out of vital charging infrastructure and ensure drivers have access to convenient and affordable charging.
The organisation’s asks are focussed on three main themes -
- Getting even more chargers in the ground – by removing the grid, planning and permitting challenges slowing us down, and including renewable electricity in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Scheme.
- Making charging and owning an EV easy and more affordable - by equalising VAT, encouraging lower cost electricity, improving signage and supporting drivers to buy or lease an EV.
- Maximising private investment, by clarifying the Rapid Charging Fund, speeding up the use of the Local EV Infrastructure Fund, addressing significant increases in standing charges, and working with the sector to develop HGV charging provision.
ChargeUK now represents 40 companies involved in installing, operating and supporting charge point infrastructure in the UK, its members are publicly committed to investing over £6 billion by 2030 to deliver and operate a world-class charging infrastructure.
Thanks to recent growth in the deployment of public charging, which is growing 45% year on year, the National Infrastructure Commission has confirmed that the UK is on track to reach the current government's ambition of 300,000 public charge points by 2030.
“There are already 60,000 public charge points available in the UK today. This, combined with over half a million home and work-place chargers, means that today's EV drivers can be sure the charging infrastructure will be there for them,” said Vicky Read, CEO of ChargeUK.
“One in three of those public chargers was installed in the last year, underlining the pace with which the rollout is taking place. But ChargeUK’s members want to go faster – we know that providing infrastructure ahead of demand is essential if we are to give the UK’s future EV drivers the confidence to switch. We also know that our infrastructure has to be easy for drivers to use and that it must be affordable.
“Our manifesto details a comprehensive plan to support the UK's transition to net zero, ensuring convenient and affordable charging for all drivers."
Members of ChargeUK include Zap-Pay partners Applegreen Electric, char.gy, Connected Kerb, ESB, Evyve, Fastned, GeniePoint, Mer, Osprey,
You can learn more about charging providers in our public charging network guides.
