Plans setting out how the Welsh Government will be investing in infrastructure and working with the private sector to give people in Wales the confidence to make the switch to electric vehicles have been unveiled today.
With already more than 1,000 public charging points across Wales, one for every six battery electric vehicles according to the Welsh Government, the plans set out an approach to ensure that the number of charging points continue to grow to meet increasing demand as fossil fuel vehicles are phased out.
The EV Charging Action Plan also sets out how the Welsh Government will be working closely with the private sector, with the aim of delivering a charging point facility for every 20 miles of the strategic trunk network across Wales by 2025, providing further reassurance to electric vehicle drivers.
Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters, with a responsibility for transport, commented: “We need to do more in the next ten years than we’ve done in the last thirty if we’re to reach our NetZero target by 2050.
“Changing the car dependency culture that has been created in the past and encouraging more people to use public transport will be key, but for those essential car journeys, making the switch to an electric vehicle is another way we can make a difference.
“The plan I’ve published today sets out the action we will be taking to deliver high quality electric vehicle infrastructure across Wales. Working with the private sector we have ambitious plans in place to increase the number of charging points across the country, so drivers feel confident to make the switch as demand for electric vehicles increases.”
Expected results of the Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy include improved charging provision at key public locations, connections group established to develop viable network solutions and network of rapid charging across Wales’ strategic trunk road network by 2025.
The Welsh Government’s Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) Transformation Fund is stated to have already provided ‘a kick-start’ for many EV projects across Wales.
The next round of ULEV funding will open for bids in December 2021.
‘Electric vehicle charging strategy for Wales: action plan’ is available on the Welsh Government website.
