Public Chargepoint Deployment (outside of London)

Background

Rapid growth of private and public sector take-up of electric vehicles is projected in the coming decade. The DfT’s Road-to-Zero Strategy has ambitious plans for up to 70% of cars and vans to be zero emission by 2030 and the recently announced move to ‘Net Zero’ carbon output will increase pressure for the electrification of transport.

The Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce (EVET) is set up to make recommendations to government and industry to ensure grid resilience in the face of mass take-up of electric vehicles and to place consumers at the centre of the process.

The shift to a smart electricity grid ready for real time adaptation to changes in demand and decentralized generation is progressing, together with the deployment of smart meters. The introduction of half-hourly pricing of electricity to consumers, including businesses, is planned by 2023 alongside a requirement for all EV chargepoints to be ‘smart’. This will allow both fleets and private motorists to engage in EV use.

In order to address range anxiety, local authorities are critical in coordinating the deployment of an EV charging infrastructure. London has addressed this through the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Taskforce, developing London’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Delivery Plan. Similar plans will be needed across the UK.

Objectives

Building on the work of the Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce (EVET), this project will scope out a strategy to support local authorities in planning the deployment of public chargepoints outside London.

LowCVP’s members, some of whom have developed tools and services which could support local authorities with elements of the planning process, and the EVET, will assess the need to develop a consistent set of tools and guidance to support local authorities. The project would assess the need, develop proposals and form a group able to deliver the tools and guidance.

Project Management & Stakeholder Engagement

LowCVP Secretariat and an appointed contractor, in collaboration with stakeholders from EVET, Partnership members and local authorities.

Timeline & Deliverables

September 2019 – March 2020