In the UK, we can be proud of being a leader in the transition towards net zero, and the transition to EVs is no exception. Last year the country was ranked the 5th best-prepared nation for the EV transition out of the world's top 20 markets.
Convenient and affordable charging infrastructure is a key enabling factor in that transition, and in line with this, the UK's charging sector has grown from small beginnings a little over a decade ago, to become one of the major sectors in the UK's green economy.
ChargeUK launched as a new industry body in April 2023, to represent Charge Point Operators (CPOs) and others in the charging sector, with a commitment from members to invest £6bn in infrastructure through to the end of the decade. And we published new analysis this summer in our Powering Ahead white paper, showing that the sector has already delivered over 930,000 charge points – home, work and public – to support the 1m fully electric vehicles currently on the road.
However, despite this positive growth story, there has been a change in the mood music over the past 18 months, with an increase in anti-EV rhetoric in mass and social media, concerns about whether EV sales are stalling and the last Government's decision to move the end date for sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans back from 2030 to 2035. All of this has dented consumer and investor confidence.
The need to rollout charging infrastructure at pace and scale increases, but the circumstances in which we need to do this are becoming more challenging. With a new Government in place, there is a fresh opportunity to look at how public policy – and public messaging – can support the charging sector to deliver what the UK needs to achieve net zero.
It's early days, but the positive tone adopted by the new Government is encouraging. As outlined in its manifesto, Sir Keir Starmer's Government will re-commit to the 2030 ZEV mandate, has made pledges towards green energy, and stated it will take a bold approach to planning.
But there is a lot still to play for and Zemo's Delivery Roadmap for Net Zero Transport has an important role to play in bringing together the requirements of different parts of the UK's transport eco-system, into a coherent plan that can be picked up and implemented by the new administration, so that we can all accelerate the good work already underway.
Powering Ahead to 2030
So, what do we hope to see in the Roadmap? 'ChargeUK's White Paper – "Powering Ahead to 2030" – found that whether a 2030 or 2035 ZEV mandate is in place, the UK's EV charging industry in a solid position to accommodate the millions of new EVs which will be driving on Britain's roads in the coming year.
The average growth rate of public charge points currently sits at 38% over the last three years, with one charge point being installed every 25 minutes. If deployment continues at this rate, the number of charge points is set to double every two years, an impressive figure.
This means that not only will the UK exceed more than 300,000 public charge points by 2030, but also that the ratios of EVs to public charge points would lower from 17:1 to around 10:1.
But CPOs still need the support of governmental bodies to make sure we achieve this. There are three areas where we need supportive policies, as set out in our own Manifesto.
The first is action to ensure that charge point deployment can continue to accelerate at
today's scale and pace. To achieve this the "barriers" slowing CPOs down identified by ChargeUK in our White Paper must be overcome. Such barriers include delays securing and energising grid connections and delays related to planning, permits and resident consultations.
The second outcome required for charging to stay on track is help to ensure that charging and owning an EV is easy and affordable – key factors in determining whether consumers make the decision to buy, lease or access an EV, whether through the new, second hand or fleet market.
To keep charging as affordable as possible, we need to address the fact that standing charges CPOs' pay for electricity have risen by 300% or more in recent years as well as the fact that VAT charged on public charging is 20% as opposed to 5% at home. We also need to see more affordable and sustainable electricity generation more generally, which can be delivered through the REMA review.
Finally, we need support to ensure that the impact of our private investment is maximised. Having certainty around the two major public subsidy schemes related to charging infrastructure is vital – there have been significant delays to the Rapid Charging Fund (RCF) and to the Local EV Infrastructure Fund (LEVI) with delays to the latter playing a major role in inhibiting charging deployment in a part of the market where scale rollout is urgently required, on-street charging. We also think that adding renewable electricity to the existing Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation will make a meaningful and sustainable difference to the investment case without requiring taxpayers' money.
In conclusion, the future for charging, the EV transition, and the decarbonisation of the UK's transport is positive, if we can take the key steps we need, with Government, in the next few crucial years. The timing of Zemo's Delivery Roadmap for Net Zero Transport is key and offers a fantastic opportunity to make progress through collaboration.
The Zemo Partnership Summit "Our Journey to a Delivery Roadmap for Net Zero Transport" on 3rd October 2024 in London will explore how the Partnership and its members will work with the new Council for Net Zero Transport to develop a delivery roadmap for net zero transport to inform and guide the policies of the new Westminster Government. Find out more, book your place and find out more about sponsorship opportunities here: https://www.zemo.org.uk/news-events/zemo-partnership-summit-2024.htm
