The UK Treasury has launched a £400m fund to bolster Britain’s EV charging infrastructure, with the first £70m allocated for 3,000 charge points – more than doubling the number across the UK to 5,000.
This funding is part of a wider government-led investment in green technologies totalling more than half a billion pounds.
Simon Clarke, exchequer secretary, said: “I am delighted to announce this funding that will more than double the number of rapid charge points for electric vehicles on our roads. Britain already boasts one of the biggest networks of charging infrastructure in Europe and soon we will have the fastest thanks to this investment.
“This is the latest in our proud record on climate change – having slashed emissions by over 40% since 1990, whilst simultaneously growing our economy, and setting an ambitious target for net zero emissions by 2050.”
Grant Shapps, transport secretary, added: “It’s fantastic there is already a rapid chargepoint at almost every motorway service station, and now more charging stations than petrol stations. But I want to see thousands more chargepoints installed across the UK.
“This fund will help drum up further investment in charging infrastructure from the private sector, so charging an electric car becomes as easy as plugging in a smart phone.”
