The charge point operator wants councillors and other local government representatives to commit to increasing the UK’s plug-in network.
Local authorities are being asked to improve their provision of electric vehicle [EV] charge points, with a number of specific pledges considered central to increasing provision.
These include:
*Rolling out all charge point speeds across all areas
*Following best practice and highest safety standards
*Agreeing contracts without exclusivity
*Using all funding sources, including private sector investment
Local authority staff can sign themselves up to the pledge card campaign here.
In March, Believ published its latest local authority insight report, ‘Driving the Future of the UK’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastrucutre. Among other things, this revealed that councils view funding issues as the most significant challenge to rolling out more charge points nationally. Access to funding was in urgent need of approval.
Overall, EV charge point installations are not keeping pace with demand, and access has falled by around 50%. One-third of local authorities still have no formal plan in place for charge points, and of those that do, half say implementation of a formal roadmap would be more than three years away. Just 18% of councils have a dedicated team working on EV infrastructure, leading Believ to ask for a specialist EV Charge Point Officer at every local authority.
‘As more consumers buy EVs, especially with the rise of the second-hand EV market, we are in very real danger that public infrastructure isn’t keeping up with demand. Private industry is ready, willing and able to fully fund local authorities’ EV infrastructure needs – and scale up the rollout,’ said Guy Bartlett, Believ CEO. ‘Our goal with these pledge cards is to foster committed action from local government, through the support of national government. We need to act now if we are to support consumers’ switch to EVs, and the decarbonisation of transport.’
More on transport:
Shared transport investigation invites disabled views on bikes and escooter schemes
Image: Believ
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- Source: https://environmentjournal.online/transport/believ-launches-local-authority-pledge-cards-for-electric-vehicle-infrastructure/