The Department for Transport in England has not been able to accomplish its goal of having six rapid or ultra-rapid chargers at every motorway service area. According to the RAC, as reported on Tuesday, the government failed to meet its own electric car charger targets. Of the 119 sites analyzed by the RAC using data from electric charging locator Zap-Map, only 46 met the target by the end of 2023, which is far less than the Department for Transport’s expectation. The figure of 39 percent from December 2023 is an increase from 23 percent at the end of April 2023.
Spokesman Simon Williams from the RAC stated that the government’s failure to meet its own target is evident from their research. He said that while chargepoint companies and motorway service operators are willing to install these units, the main barrier is the lack of high-power cabling to the grid. Williams stressed the need for the government’s rapid charging fund to simplify the process, and to overcome the current obstacles.
The absence of rapid charge points, especially on motorways, is considered a major factor that discourages people from purchasing electric vehicles, even though rapid charge points can add 100 miles of range to an electric vehicle in 35 minutes. The government has established a £950 million rapid charging fund to support the rollout of charging points across England’s motorways and major A roads, which was supposed to be available for applications in spring 2023, but it has not yet opened.
With the increasing availability of public chargepoints across the country, it is reported that around 96 percent of motorway services in the UK now offer charging facilities for drivers. The government also launched a pilot scheme and a consultation to expand the rapid charging fund, showing its commitment to advancing electric vehicle infrastructure.
Rishi Sunak, who succeeded Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, pushed back the ban date on petrol and diesel engines to 2035 earlier this year. The Labour Party expressed its intention to restore the 2030 ban date if it wins the general election. However, Bob Bull from the Alliance of British Drivers pointed out that there is little enthusiasm from the average motorist to switch to electric cars due to the shortage of chargers. The government has made efforts to improve the situation, but it is clear that more needs to be done to make rapid charging more feasible and accessible for the public.