According to new research the rollout of electric vehicle charge points must increase 500% to support the upcoming ban on new petrol and diesel cars…

Think Tank Policy Exchange’s report said ‘the UK will need 400,000 public charge points when the sale of new fossil-fuelled cars and vans are banned in 2030, up from 35,000 currently.

To reach this total, the annual rate of installations must increase from around 7,000 over the past three years to 35,000 over the next decade.

Researchers recommended the government should issue contracts to private firms to install charge points in areas where they are sparse.

Although, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps insisted the UK’s charging network is “world-leading”, adding: “From Cumbria to Cornwall, drivers across the country should benefit from the electric vehicle revolution we’re seeing right now.”

And he announced a further £20m of funding for local authorities to install 4,000 more on-street charge points across the UK, which will allow residents without access to off-street parking to charge their vehicles.

In November, Prime Minister Boris Johnson brought forward the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040 to 2030 as part of his “green industrial revolution”.

He also pledged to pump £1.3bn towards charging infrastructure over the next four years.

Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders shows electric vehicles took 17% of the new car market in 2020, up from 3% during the previous 12 months.

In-conjunction with this, the government are hoping their £350 grant towards the cost of a home charger installation (for qualifying people), and their £350 grant for each workplace charger installed (maximum of 40 or £14,000 for each qualifying organisation) will ease the pressure the network.

Even in lockdown, we’re certainly seeing an uptake in grant applications, especially with a £140 saving available on our Wallbox Pulsar Plus home EV charger.

…it even comes complete with a 5m attached cable worth circa £150.