Transport was responsible for over a quarter of UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2018, of which road transport was the largest source of emissions, largely due to the impact of passenger cars. The decarbonisation of personal transport will therefore be critical to meeting our climate change targets. The challenge is significant; over 38 million cars in the UK will have to be replaced by Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs).
The Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan confirmed that the UK would end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, with the sale of certain hybrid vehicles permitted until 2035. The Scottish Government has also committed to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.
As Electric vehicles (EVs) become more popular, there will be increased demand for chargepoints at home and in public places. There is evidence that inadequate public charging infrastructure for EVs in the UK is forcing drivers to take risks by opting for highly dangerous alternatives at home.
It is important that public electrical charging points are made more accessible across the UK and that adequate financial support is provided to ensure households can install safe charging infrastructure at home. There is also a need to raise awareness of the risks of using dangerous charging practices.
Recommendations
- Further consumer education is needed around the risks of using a standard 13A plug and socket to charge an EV. Consumer organisations, Industry and Government should collaborate to ensure that consumers have appropriate information when they switch to EVs from standard diesel and petrol cars.
- The Department for Transport and devolved governments must ensure that there is adequate financial support for households to install charging infrastructure at home using an OZEV authorised installer.
- The Department for Transport, OZEV, Local Authorities and Industry must ensure that there is adequate EV charging infrastructure across the UK to reduce the risk associated with dangerous charging practices. Support should be focused on areas where existing chargepoint deployment is particularly low. Consideration should be given to undertaking a mapping exercise to ensure that the deployment of future projects is co-ordinated, and that a further disparity by geography is not created.
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