William Eichler 08 June 2022

Charge point operator warns of £1.5bn shortfall in EV funding

Charge point operator warns of £1.5bn shortfall in EV funding  image
Image: buffaloboy/Shutterstock.com.

A charge point operator has warned of a £1.5bn shortfall in Government electric vehicle infrastructure funding and called on the private sector to step in.

Liberty Charge said the Government’s £450m Local Electric Vehicle infrastructure (LEVI) fund falls short of real-life costs.

In total, the Government has committed just under £1.5bn in funding for rapid and transit charge points across the UK. However, the firm believes this is just half of what it will cost to install the 300,000 public charge points needed to electrify the UK and could leave Britain at risk of missing its net-zero goals.

Neil Isaacson, CEO of Liberty Charge, said the private sector should and can handle the funding gap needed to meet charge point targets.

‘Local authorities urgently need more resources and funding to boost electric vehicle infrastructure, if the UK is to meet the deadline it has set itself of ending sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030,’ he said.

Liberty Charge warned that local authorities are ‘chronically under-resourced’ when it comes to EV infrastructure.

Just 14% of councils have dedicated EV infrastructure resources, 3% have none at all. On average, three people work a collective 15 hours per week each on planning, commissioning and implementation. That's less than half a full-time employee devoted to EV infrastructure rollout.

‘I understand they’re under-resourced, but the Government will need to go further and faster if it’s really serious about hitting its net-zero target,’ Mr Isaacson added.

This article first appeared on LAPV.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Standards, Compliance and Development Manager - Children’s residential provisions

Oxfordshire County Council
£57187.00 - £60485.00
This role will lead on Quality Assurance, Standards development, and Regulatory compliance for Oxfordshire’s residential children’s provision, including the unregulated reforms 2022. The post holder will conduct internal inspections within the registe Countywide
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Streetcare LGV Driver / Operative - WMF2112e

Westmorland and Furness Council
£27,711 - £28,624
Westmorland and Furness Council are seeking to employ an enthusiastic and motivated person into a Street Cleansing role Cumbria
Recuriter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Specialist Communication Support Worker (CDC)

City Of Doncaster Council
Grade 7, £27,259 - £29,955 (pay award pending)
The City of Doncaster Council puts improving the life of its residents at the centre of everything we do. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: City Of Doncaster Council

Apprentice Social Value

Durham County Council
£14,566
Earn. Learn. Qualify.   Do you want to earn while you learn, with the chance of progression once you qualify? Do you want the opportunity to grow, dev Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Pay Reward and Employment Services Support Officers

Durham County Council
£25,584 to £27,711 p.a. (Grade 5) Pay Award Pending
An exciting opportunity has arisen for ten Pay, Reward & Employment Services Support Officers to join our CIPP accredited team.   WHAT IS INVOLVED?  Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner