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

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

North Northamptonshire Council
£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recuriter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Capital Delivery Manager

South Wales Trunk Road Agent
£50,788 - £52,805
To be responsible for the implementation of Welsh Government’s Renewal and Upgrade programme. Baglan, Port Talbot
Recuriter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer x 2

Hounslow London Borough Council
£47,532 –£55,620 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recuriter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £27653.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI ChelmsfordFixed Term, Part Time£25,081 to £27,653 Per Annum, Full Time EquivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Head of SEN Assessment & Resolution

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
£77136 - £88230 per annum
Shape a fairer future for children with special educational needs.As Head of SEN Assessment and Resolution at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chel England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Linkedin Banner