Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 65
We recommend that the Government publish its future of rural transport strategy as a matter...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government publish its future of rural transport strategy as a matter of priority. The strategy should include the Government’s plan to ensure people living in rural areas have adequate access to charging infrastructure.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation to publish its future of rural transport strategy as a matter of priority and highlights its existing EV Infrastructure Strategy and related policies, but makes no specific commitment to a timeline or content for the rural transport strategy.
Paragraph Reference:
65
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Fuelling the future: motive power and connectivity 11 The Government agrees with this recommendation. The UK Government exchanges best practice and lessons learnt with various other countries through bilateral conversations and international working groups such as the international Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council. As the sale of plug-in vehicles continues to soar, the Government published a landmark EV Infrastructure Strategy in March 2022, which sets out its plans to accelerate the rollout of a world-class charging network. This strategy sets out the Government’s vision and commitments to make EV charging cheaper and more convenient than refuelling at a petrol station. The Government is aware that the majority (around 75%) of electric car charging happens at home as it is often cheaper and more convenient for drivers. However, the Government, through its policy and funding support, is ensuring that public chargepoints are in place to support those without off-street parking and to enable long distance journeys. The latest Government data, published on 1 April 2023, shows that public charging devices have nearly quadrupled in a little over four years from 10,300 devices in January 2019 to over 40,000, including more than 7,600 rapid devices. In 2022, an average of 723 public charging devices were added to the UK’s public charging network each month. The Government’s priority is to ensure that the right chargepoints are installed in the right places and local authorities must play a key role in the rollout of on-street chargepoints. They are best placed to consider local needs and ensure appropriate chargepoint coverage to serve residents and businesses. That is why, subject to consultation, the Government will require all local transport authorities in England to develop their own chargepoint strategies.