Mayor sets out London’s EV charging network plans

The Mayor wants London to become a zero-emission city and will use the capital’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Taskforce and other industry partners to drive forward a number of initiatives including:

• Installing the next generation of ultra-rapid charging points at London petrol stations later this year.
• Delivering five flagship charging hubs, with the ability for multiple cars to quickly be charged in one place. The first of these hubs will be operational in the heart of the Square Mile by the end of the year.
• A new ‘one-stop-shop’ for Londoners to request new charging infrastructure from their local authority  in areas of high demand led by London councils, making it easier for drivers to switch to electric vehicles.
• Expanding electric car clubs and bringing more vehicles to market, offering greater choice to Londoners and businesses.
• New online smart tools to ensure London’s energy grid continues to keep pace with demand and to help unlock private sector investment.

Speaking at the launch of the London EV Infrastructure Delivery Plan at the Institution of Engineering and Technology today (17 June), the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “London’s air is so dirty and polluted that it amounts to nothing less than a serious public health crisis. It breaches legal limits and blights the lives of Londoners, resulting in thousands of premature deaths every year.

“We are also facing a climate emergency that threatens the long-term security and wellbeing of every Londoner.

“We need to reject the fossil fuels of the past and embrace an electric revolution in London’s transport. To truly transform the quality of our air and to tackle the climate crisis London must move away from petrol and diesel cars, with their catastrophic impact on the environment, and towards zero- emission vehicles.

“I want London to lead the world in this ambition, with all new cars and vans on London roads to meeting these standards by 2030, not 2040 as the government is proposing.

“To make this vision a reality we must make sure all Londoners have access to the essential infrastructure required to run and maintain an electric vehicle. This is a massive operation and can only be achieved if the public and private sector come together to deliver London’s electric future.”

The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Taskforce, brings together representatives from business, energy, infrastructure, government and the London boroughs. More than 140 organisations have contributed to the work of the Taskforce in the past year.

London has more than 20,000 electric vehicles, 1,700 electric taxis and Europe’s largest electric bus fleet.

This plan estimates the number of charge points required in the next five years, based on different scenarios for the growth of EVs and looks at how this can be delivered with less public subsidy and without installing points which are underused or outdated.

The plan outlines how London is on track to deliver the necessary infrastructure for a radical growth in electric vehicles, which estimates show could increase from around 20,000 today to over 330,000 by 2025. This will be driven by a combination of new low-emission regulations, supportive policy at all levels of government and a decrease in the cost of electric vehicles.

London currently hosts 25 per cent of the UK’s electric vehicle charge points – more than any other UK region, with 2,400 public chargers spread over 1,200 locations. The Mayor has made the installation of rapid charge points (delivering a full charge in 20-30 minutes) a priority, to encourage high-mileage drivers to switch to electric vehicles.

Christina Calderato, head of transport strategy & planning for TfL, added: “London’s toxic air reduces the length and quality of lives across the city. Improved electric vehicle infrastructure can support more essential trips being made using zero-emission transport, which will help clean up the air.

“The Mayor’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Delivery Plan shows how important it will be for the whole sector to work together to foster the expected uptake of electric vehicles. We have already delivered 183 rapid charging points with 300 on the way by the end of next year. It is fantastic to see collaboration with partners already happening through the taskforce.”

London Boroughs have installed more than 1,100 overnight residential charge points as part of the ‘Go Ultra Low City’ partnership between the GLA, TfL and London Councils.

UK Power Networks CEO Basil Scarsella, said: “We are supporting the Mayor of London’s commitment to improving London’s air quality with actions, not words. By enabling at least five state of the art flagship rapid charging hubs in the next couple of years, UK Power Networks in partnership with TfL will be delivering reliable, fast and available charging infrastructure for Londoners. Our map will help infrastructure investors and local authorities find the most cost-efficient locations to connect charge points to the electricity network.

“Through this collaborative cross industry initiative, London is leading the way in establishing the infrastructure we need to enable the low carbon transport revolution. With the vast majority of electric vehicle charging happening on the distribution network we have a duty to go above and beyond so we are proud to be supporting the Mayor of London’s vision.”

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