The electric vehicle charging network in the United Kingdom will receive a £300 million boost

Cambodia Compass report, 24th May - As part of efforts to accelerate the UK's transition to renewable energy, the UK's energy regulator is investing £300 million to help triple the number of ultra-rapid charging points for electric vehicles across the country.The money will be used by Ofgem to construct new infrastructure to enable 3,550 new ultra-rapid charging points, 1,800 of which will be located at motorway service stations and 1,750 in towns and cities.

From 2030, the UK intends to prohibit the selling of new petrol and diesel cars, and electric vehicles will be phased out by 2035. However, a study published last week by the powerful Commons public accounts committee (PAC) revealed that meeting the government's goal of switching all vehicles to net zero emissions models within a decade would be difficult, owing in part to weak infrastructure.

Last year, only 11% of new car registrations were for ultra-low emission vehicles.

“The payment would help the rapid uptake of electric vehicles, which is critical if Britain is to meet its climate change targets,” said Jonathan Brearley, chief executive of Ofgem. “Drivers must be assured that they will be able to charge their car quickly when needed.”

As it recovers from the Covid pandemic, the CBI, the UK's top business lobby organization, said on Monday that decarbonizing the global economy and increasing trade could unlock nearly £700 billion in commercial growth opportunities by 2030.

The project, according to Ofgem, will be completed in the next two years and will support cities such as Glasgow, Kirkwall, Warrington, Llandudno, York, and Truro. The support would also extend to rural areas, with some charging stations at train stations in north and mid-Wales targeted at commuters.

A part of the money would go into increasing renewable energy and converting more homes and businesses to electric heating in those regions. The Windermere ferry in Cumbria will also be electrified as part of the scheme.

It contributes to the £40 billion already set aside for renewable energy projects over the next seven years, with Ofgem promising more in 2022.

Rachel Maclean, the UK's transport minister, praised the investment, saying it would strengthen the charging network's resilience.

“With over 500,000 electric cars on UK roads already, this will help to increase the number even further as drivers continue to turn to cleaner, greener vehicles,” she said.

Source: Cambodia Compass comprehensive arrangement

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