This revelation highlights a significant gap in infrastructure planning, leaving countless potential EV drivers without viable charging options.
Conducted through a Freedom of Information application across 414 councils and local authorities in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the investigation has also unveiled that 69% of local authorities have yet to install any on-street chargers.
The data collected up to 1 July from 289 councils reveals plans for installing only 14,188 new charge points this year, significantly falling behind the required pace to achieve the Government’s goal of 300,000 operational charge points by the end of 2030.
Electric streets of Britain
In response to this concerning scenario, Vauxhall has initiated the ‘Electric Streets of Britain‘ programme to ensure that those without driveways are not excluded from the electric mobility transition.
Vauxhall, committing to an all-electric UK lineup by 2028, is collaborating with charging operators char.gy, Connected Kerb, and SureCharge to establish an ‘Enablement Fund’. This fund will help councils comprehend the magnitude of on-street charging challenges and the available solutions, anticipating the Government’s planned ban on new combustion engine car sales in 2030.
To bolster this effort, Vauxhall has launched a national database at http://electricstreets.co.uk/ for the public to register their on-street charging requirements. This database will provide councils with invaluable insights into the demand for on-street charging, benefiting existing and potential EV drivers.
Check out the Electric Streets of Britain video: https://youtu.be/Al8JaqrhhaM
Given that approximately 80% of all EV charging is conducted at home, on-street electric car charging is pivotal for enhancing EV adoption, particularly for households without driveways. Nearly 40% of UK households lack driveways or off-street parking, and this figure rises to 60% in urban areas, so on-street solutions are essential. These include lamp post chargers, which can be installed in as little as 30 minutes, and innovative pavement-mounted bollards.
On-street residential charging
London is leading the charge in on-street residential charging, with 12,708 already installed and a further 6,397 planned for the coming year, resulting in a total of 19,105 charge points. In contrast, all other regions combined are trailing behind this significant milestone.
James Taylor, managing director, of Vauxhall, comments: “Accessibility to charge points near your home is critical to the transition to electric vehicle ownership in the UK. We want to galvanise the needs and interests of everyone, from the public to the councils and the charging operators, to make sure that anyone without a driveway is part of that journey.
“We want to help educate and inform the decision-makers, and enable the installation of more chargers, more quickly.”
On-street charging will empower residential EV owners and benefit businesses, as employees charge approximately 40% of company-owned electric vans at home. The widespread availability of charge points supports businesses in their electric transition, aiding van drivers in topping up their vehicles conveniently.
Already a frontrunner in electric vehicle offerings, Vauxhall plans to introduce a fully electric version of every model by 2024 and become an all-electric brand by 2028. The brand currently holds the title of the best-selling electric van manufacturer in the UK, and its Ellesmere Port plant is set to become the first manufacturing site dedicated to electric model production within the Stellantis group.