In a massive boost for the electric car charging network, the Mayor of London Sadiq Kahn has set outplays to introduce a huge amount of new charging points. As there is an increased push towards zero-emissions cities and driving, there is a requirement of better and more suitable infrastructure to support drivers making the switch. To tackle the twin dangers of London’s toxic air crisis and the climate change emergency, the Mayor has brought together the public and private sector to deliver better electric vehicle infrastructure. Sadiq declared: “We need to reject the fossil fuels of the past and embrace an electric revolution in London’s transport.”
Currently, there are around 20,000 electric vehicles, 1,700 electric taxis and Europe’s largest electric bus fleet.
The new plan builds on TfL’s successful rollout of over 175 rapid charge points across the city (delivering a full charge in 20 – 30 minutes) and a growing network of over 1,100 lamp post charging points delivered by boroughs in residential areas.
Overall the plan looks to deliver 50,000 EV charge points to the city by 2025, with the vision of becoming a zero-emissions transport city by 2030.
Estimations suggest that EV ownership could increase from 20,000 to over 330,000 by 2025, which will require a dramatic increase in the amount of charging points.
This follows on from the plan to introduce 300 rapid change points by the end of 2020 and 3,500 ‘slow to fast’ AC charge points by the same time.
In addition to this, there will be the introduction of rapid charging hubs to serve high-mileage/business users, with one being introduced into each borough of the city.
Speaking at the launch of the London EV Infrastructure Delivery Plan at the Institution of Engineering and Technology today, 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.”
Jonathan Hampson, General Manager for Zipcar UK, said: “It’s clear that London needs, not only cleaner cars, but fewer cars. Electric car sharing therefore has to be part of the answer to London’s future mobility needs.
“Zipcar UK has outlined plans to transition to a fully electric fleet by 2025 and we started that process last year with the launch of 325 fully electric e-Golfs which, in just the first nine months, were used by over 15,000 Londoners.
“We are driving the change that London has to make but, to go further, the rapid growth of a charging infrastructure is a pre-requisite and that’s why we’re delighted by and fully support the Mayor of London’s ambition.”
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said:“The Mayor’s plan rightly recognises that delivering a recharging network on the scale and complexity envisaged for London will involve a multitude of players, a large number of whom, including ourselves, have been pleased to be part of this taskforce.”
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