To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many publicly available charging points for electric cars there are in the UK; and what plans he has to increase the number of charging points.
Answered on
28 November 2017
The vast majority of charging takes place at home, overnight. To support this, the Government provides funding for the installation of both on-street and off-street charging infrastructure. In addition, support exists UK-wide, including for rural areas, to enable workplaces to install infrastructure for use of employees and fleets.
The UK also now has over 11,500 publically accessible chargepoints, including over 900 rapid chargepoints. This is one of the largest rapid networks in Europe.
In addition, the Automated and Electric Vehicle Bill, currently going through Parliament, will give powers to the UK Government to expand deployment of infrastructure at motorway service areas and large fuel retailers, UK-wide.
As announced at Autumn Budget 2017, a new £400m electric car Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (£200m new Government investment to be matched by private investors) will accelerate the roll-out of charging infrastructure by providing access to finance to companies that deliver chargepoints.