DfT moots minimum number of chargepoints for fuel stations

Motorway service area operators and large fuel retailers could be forced to provide a minimum number of electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints at certain sites as part of the government’s new strategy to boost England’s charging infrastructure.

The Department for Transport (DfT)’s new strategy sets a goal to remove charging infrastructure as both a perceived, and a real, barrier to the adoption of EVs by making it “cheaper and more convenient” than refuelling at a petrol station by 2030.

The strategy says DfT expects a minimum of 300,000 public chargepoints across the UK by then and potentially  double that figure.

However, the document says the current pace of rolling out chargepoints is too slow and is not consistent with what is needed for a fully zero emission new car fleet in 2035.

This slow pace of rollout is particularly true for low power, on-street charging, which DfT describes as “crucial” for motorists lacking driveways and fleet drivers.

“Too often, public charging lets people down,” says the document, which identifies charging infrastructure as the “single biggest challenge” to decarbonisation of transport, now the UK’s single largest source of emissions.

The strategy reveals that the government will consult on mandating service area operators and large fuel retailers to deliver a minimum number of chargepoints at specific sites, increasing over time, in order to address both “actual and perceived” demand for charging.

This mandate will underpin the government’s previously announced target that every motorway service area has at least six rapid chargers by the end of 2023 and more than 6,000 high powered chargers along the strategic road network by 2035.

The strategy says more than 70% of England’s service areas now have a plan to deliver next year’s target of six rapid chargers, and that DfT will continue working with site operators to ensure that every site is reached.

It says the rollout of high-powered chargers on the strategic road network will be accelerated through the government’s existing £950 million Rapid Charging Fund.

The strategy says the government will also consult on imposing an obligation on local authorities to develop and implement strategies for those drivers who require on-street charging because they lack a driveway.

It says DfT’s £500 million local infrastructure support programme will be used to develop new approaches to deploying local chargepoints and provide greater clarity on the best balance between low and high-power charging for consumers and the energy system.

The strategy also says DfT will work with Ofgem to ensure chargepoints “seamlessly integrate” with the energy system.

This will include making sure the bulk of charging is smart and ideally off-peak, deployment of chargepoints is not deterred by connection costs  and EV charging infrastructure makes the most efficient use of the electricity system.

Commenting on DfT’s strategy, Bridget Rosewell, National Infrastructure Commissioner, said: “This is a promising package which tries to tackle the big obstacles – the need for a visible network of rapid chargers alongside better local provision for those without driveways or garages to charge up overnight.

“Government has now accepted the scale of the challenge and the need to empower local authorities to help ensure charge point coverage is accessible and fairly priced for all drivers.

“We’re shifting into drive mode, and we have a decent map for the road ahead, but we now need to keep our foot down and actually deliver the infrastructure needed to give drivers confidence to make the switch.”

Graeme Cooper, head of future markets at National Grid, said: “We now need to see action that makes best use of the available funding, and collaboration between transport and energy networks to deliver the most efficient network solution.

“We can’t just focus on cars and vans. There needs to be a holistic approach across the whole transport system – we need to see a plan in place for the deployment of charging infrastructure that will support the decarbonisation across road, rail aviation and maritime as well.”