Electric cars make up around 3% of the UK total so far but growth is rapid, with 267,200 sold in 2022, compared to 15,500 in 2015. A key part of encouraging sales is making charging points available and Surrey are leading the way.
Surrey County Council are launching the largest rollout of charging infrastructure by any UK local authority. In partnership with a specialist installer, they will be creating 1,500 charging locations across the county.
Funding has been agreed and more than 5,000 charging points are expected to be in place by 2027, including 500 rapid charging points.
An Essential Need
The government target is to have 300,000 public charging points by 2030, against the current level of 40,000. With all new vehicles required to be electric from 2035, this is an inescapable requirement.
Surrey’s goal for 2030 is to provide a minimum of 10,000 charging points. Equivalent to 3% of the national target and well ahead on population share but Surrey has seen a high uptake of electric vehicles.
The Council’s cabinet member for transport pointed out additional reasons. Stimulating overall growth and supporting electric car ownership in the county, to help the council achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Surrey County Council has a commitment to be a carbon net zero county by 2050 and part of achieving this is a switch to non fossil fuel vehicles.
Encouraging Change
The appearance of charging points on streets and in public car parks should make people more likely to buy electric cars. Most surveys show that concerns over charging on route are a prime stumbling block.
With one public charger currently available in Surrey for every 9,000 inhabitants, concern is understandable. The new initiative should offer encouragement and trials over the last two years have ironed out most wrinkles.
Always easy to wait in the face of new technology and see if better options emerge but being ahead of the curve can have advantages.
Promoting The County
Whether doing business in Surrey, or thinking of locating in the county, companies want to see modern facilities. Their employees also need to know their needs can be met, including an ability to use vehicles of their choice.
Neither should environmental concerns be underrated, from supporting the planet we live on, to clean air for our families to breathe. Electric vehicle charging is only a small part of this but still matters.
People often move to Surrey because they want good facilities and support. In the same way that providing a removals quote is about meeting need, this is what the County Council are trying to do.
The spend on vehicle charging will be significant but they are attempting to support a need that will quite soon be part of everyday life.
