BCP failing to keep pace with rollout of electric vehicle charging points

Thinktank the Policy Exchange says there are still charging "blackspots" in regions across the UK, adding the speed of installations needs to increase to meet growing demand.

There were 74 public charging points in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole at the start of January, according to figures from the Department for Transport.

That is a rate of 19 per 100,000 people, lower than the UK average of 31.

Since October 2019 – when figures began at a local authority level – Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has seen 16 devices added to its supply.

Councillor Mike Greene, portfolio holder for transport & sustainability at BCP Council, said: “We are committed to leading our communities towards a cleaner, sustainable future and will continue to promote the full range of environmentally friendly travel options, including the use of electric vehicles.

“I’ve very pleased that we are currently in the process of updating the 12 rapid charging points owned and managed by the council so as to improve the quality of service available to local users.

“We will be closely monitoring demand for these services as we continue to consider innovative ways to promote sustainable travel across the conurbation, including the possibility of expanding our rapid-charge network.”

Meanwhile, across the UK, an additional 5,700 devices were made available over the same period, taking the total number up to 20,800 at the start of this year.

In a bid to further boost numbers, transport minister Grant Shapps announced an extra £20 million was to be made available for local authorities.

However, a report by the Policy Exchange says the speed of the rollout needs to increase from the current rate to meet the planned ban on new petrol and diesel cars in 2030.

It also found a gap in coverage of the charging points across the UK, claiming the Government's funding scheme for local authorities had not been evenly distributed.

In a foreword to the report, Conservative MP Simon Clarke said: "Whereas a driver of a petrol car can travel confidently from Land's End to John O'Groats, knowing that they can refill the tank every few miles, that is not yet the case for electric vehicles.

"Some areas have naturally built up impressive coverage, such as central London, but vast swathes of the country have not."

He added: "As with the enduring problems of broadband rollout which leave blackspots even today, the market misses out large parts of the UK, especially smaller towns and rural areas."

The DfT acknowledged the "uneven" distribution of devices across the UK in a report accompanying the latest figures, which were produced from the platform Zap-Map covering 95 per cent of publicly accessible charging-points.

Mr Shapps said the extra £20 million cash for local authorities will see the doubling of 4,000 on-street electric vehicle charging points already funded by the Government.

He said: "With a world-leading charging network, we're making it easier for people to switch to electric vehicles, creating healthier neighbourhoods and cleaning up our air as we build back greener."

The Local Government Association, which represents councils in England, welcomed the support, but said "longer term resourcing" was needed.

Transport spokesman David Renard said: "Councils are working hard to improve electric vehicle charging infrastructure in their areas but are doing so against competing demands on their time and local circumstances will vary."

Electric cars have surged in popularity with manufacturers currently supplying a record number.

There were 1,368 electric vehicles licensed to addresses in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole at the end of September 2020, according to latest DfT data – up by 36 per cent from 1,008 in September 2019.

In November, Prime Minister Boris Johnson brought forward the ban on petrol car sales from 2040 to 2030 as part of a "green industrial revolution" to tackle climate change.