Government announces new electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure strategy - RAC reaction

Following the publication of a government strategy designed to boost electric car ('EV') charging infrastructure and improve driver's experience, RAC head of policy Nicholas Lyes said:

“With the electric vehicle revolution already underway, it’s vital the UK’s charging infrastructure is fit for purpose and keeps pace. It’s pleasing that the Government recognises the value of mandating contactless payment and will also set ambitious reliability targets on the chargepoints themselves. Many current and would-be EV drivers worry that charging units will be out of order when they arrive to charge their vehicles so it is vitally important this is addressed. The development of local charging hubs, which we have called for for some time, will also play a crucial role in helping the estimated one-third of drivers who can’t charge at home as they don’t have a driveway or garage.

“With the number of new electric vehicles coming on to our roads accelerating at an impressive rate, it is vital the Government has ambitious targets on installing new public chargepoints ahead of 2030. While the Government’s expectation of having 300,000 chargepoints available by 2030 might sound impressive, we are concerned that this is not going to be sufficient with drivers looking to switch to an electric vehicle en-masse ahead of the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars. Additionally, accessibility standards and assistance for those without smartphone apps should also be part of the overall strategy.”

Find out more about what the RAC is doing to help more drivers switch to electric cars.