Energising electric vehicle charging

Electric vehicle sector reacts to government's clean energy announcements

Energy secretary Ed Miliband has set out a package of new measures designed to accelerate the UK’s clean energy transition in response to ongoing global energy market volatility.

Speaking at the Good Growth Foundation's National Growth Debate, Miliband committed the government to “doubling down” on its clean energy mission with a series of announcements focused on the electrification of transport and home heating.

The government's EV-related announcements include: legislation this summer to introduce permitted development rights for cross-pavement charging; a consultation on building regulations and an ‘Ability to Charge’ for renters and leaseholders; and planning and grid connection reforms to accelerate clean energy infrastructure.

Key measures relevant to the EV sector include: 

• a commitment to legislate this summer to introduce permitted development rights for cross-pavement charging solutions
• a forthcoming consultation on changes to building regulations to increase EV charging provision in new buildings and for renters and leaseholders
• a package of reforms to streamline planning and grid connection rules for clean energy infrastructure.

Responses

Vicky Edmonds, chief executive officer of EVA England, said: “Today’s announcements are a clear step forward and reflect what drivers have been calling for, breaking down the practical barriers to switching to electric.

“In particular, plans to introduce permitted development rights for EV charging and cross-pavement solutions are a major breakthrough for the millions without driveways who currently face a two-tier system of higher costs and fewer options. This is an area EVA England has consistently highlighted for reform, so it’s encouraging to see progress. 

“Around half of drivers without off-street parking say they are paying more to run an EV than their previous petrol or diesel car. Addressing this imbalance is critical to making the transition fair.

“Alongside new rights for renters and leaseholders, this is a welcome package, and now the focus must be on delivering it in a way that genuinely works for drivers.”

Vicky Read, chief executive of ChargeUK, said: “As global conflict sends petrol prices soaring again and drivers flock to electric cars, which are now on average cheaper than petrol, the government is right to double down on electrification. Any move which makes that option affordable for more people is a positive one. 

“However, millions of drivers will remain reliant on public charging which is more expensive than it needs to be. Unlike rising petrol prices, solving this is within government’s gift. By equalising VAT and addressing surging charge point standing charges, government can reduce the charging divide and help to remove road transport’s fossil fuel dependency. Capitalising on surging demand to meet its supply side EV sales quotas.”

Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said: “Doubling down on net zero technologies like wind, solar and electric heat pumps while oil and gas remains volatile is clearly the sensible thing to do for our energy security. Once we have installed a wind turbine or solar panel, we don’t need to pay another country for the fuel, which will increasingly be the case with oil and gas as the North Sea continues its inevitable decline.

“Large wind farms already lowered the wholesale electricity price by around a third last year. With around 90% of oil and gas from the North Sea already extracted, and more drilling making no significant difference to our bills or prices at the pump, clean power and electrification is clearly emerging as a way out of another fossil fuel crisis in future.”

Colin Walker, head of transport at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said: “With the price of petrol and diesel rising rapidly as a result of the war in Iran, interest in EVs is surging as more drivers are looking for ways to avoid these rising costs. Improving access to cross-pavement charging solutions will enable even more households to join the majority that can already charge an EV at home, allowing them to be run for as little as 2p per mile, rather than 17-18p per mile for a petrol car.

“As well as enabling more households to save hundreds, even thousands, of pounds a year in the midst of an energy crisis, accelerating the UK’s shift to EVs will also enhance the country’s energy security, as we move away from petrol cars that rely on oil imported from abroad, to vehicles that are increasingly powered by electricity generated in British wind and solar farms.”

Gurjeet Grewal, chief executive of Octopus Electric Vehicles, said:  “Fuel price shocks have turbocharged interest in EVs – but millions of renters and flat-dwellers still don’t benefit from cheap charging at home. Make charging simple and affordable, and you unlock a huge new wave of drivers ready to switch. This is another clear sign from the government on the direction of travel for UK drivers. Switch to electric, charge at home and protect yourself from price rises at the petrol pumps.”

John Lewis, chief executive of char.gy, said: “Today's commitment to streamline planning and grid connection rules, unlock clean power across the public estate, and make charging easier for renters and flat-dwellers all point in the same direction: a future where nobody is left behind in the switch to electric simply because of where they live.

“Lamppost charging has always been about meeting drivers where they are, using infrastructure that's already on every street in the country. These reforms will help unlock that potential at the scale and speed the transition demands, and char.gy stands ready to deliver.”

Michael Goulden, chief executive of Kerbo Charge, said: “We've long called for the government to cut through the red tape that has been holding back cross-pavement charging, and today's commitment to introduce permitted development rights this summer is exactly the kind of decisive action needed. With home charging five to ten times cheaper than public alternatives, this opens the door to genuinely affordable EV ownership for the millions of drivers who've been locked out simply because they don't have a driveway.”