The Government has launched the £381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund alongside an additional £15 million for the On-Street Residential Charging Scheme (ORCS).
Taken together the funding will support the installation of tens of thousands of new chargers across the country increasing EV infrastructure to ensure the UK’s charging network can support the increasing number of EV drivers and those considering the switch.
The Government has also unveiled its proposals for a zero emission vehicle mandate which, from next year, will set minimum annual targets for the percentage of new car and van sales that must be zero emission. The proposed mandate makes the UK’s path to zero emission vehicles the fastest in Europe.
The plans support the Government’s commitment to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 and from 2035 all new cars and vans must be fully zero emission at the exhaust. Between 2030 and 2034, all new vehicles must be either fully zero emission or be able to drive a significant distance with zero emissions.
The final proposals are being jointly consulted upon by the UK government, alongside Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and are the single largest carbon saving measure identified in the government’s Net Zero Strategy.
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones said “Having fast, accessible and reliable EV charging points is crucial to the country’s journey towards net zero.
“Our area has already seen significant investment in this type infrastructure and I hope that with this funding we can continue this positive progress and make it easier for people make the switch to electric vehicles.”
The measures come after almost 17 per cent of new cars sold last year being zero emission.
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