Electric car charge points with every new home among plans in major transport overhaul
2 min read
Forcing housebuilders to fit infrastructure for charging electric vehicles is among plans to be unveiled as part of a major Government transport strategy.
Chris Grayling will unveil a series of measures to “future proof” England’s streets, including a £400m Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund to speed-up the process, as ministers work towards the ban on new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040.
The Transport Secretary will brand the plans the "biggest overhaul in road transport technology since the development of the Benz Patent Motorcar over 130 years ago".
As part of the Government’s ‘Road to Zero’ strategy, new street lighting columns in areas with current on-street parking will have charging points fitted where possible.
Ministers will also look at extending facilities to buildings such as offices, while the grant level available through the Workplace Charging Scheme will rise to 75% of the purchase and costs of a chargepoint.
A further £40m will be spent on developing and trialling "innovative, low cost wireless and on-street charging technology".
£4.5m has also been pledged to help councils boost the current On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme until 2020, paving the way for “thousands” more chargepoints.
Announcing the strategy, Mr Grayling will say: “The Road to Zero Strategy, combined with the measures we’ve already introduced, will mean Britain now has one of the most comprehensive support packages for zero emission vehicles in the world.
“We want the UK to become the best country in the world in which to develop and manufacture zero emission vehicles.
“The prize is not just a cleaner and healthier environment but a UK economy fit for the future and the chance to win a substantial slice of a market estimated to be worth up to £7.6tn by 2050.”
But Labour's Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald slammed the Government's "dangerous" proposals, warning that they would do little to meet carbon targets.
"At a time when the planet is threatened by climate change and air pollution contributes to 40,000 premature deaths each year, it is dangerous for the Government to row back on their commitments to clean up road transport. This isn't a Road to Zero, it's a road to nowhere," he said.
"Under the Tories, Britain is being held back from the transition towards electric vehicles which is already happening elsewhere across the globe."
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
