The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) has responded to the publication of a seven-point plan by The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) to boost the rollout of EV infrastructure.
The REA shares many of the central aims that the SMMT sets out in their position paper, in particular that the UK’s EV charging infrastructure network should be built around the needs of all consumers, regardless of their location or demographic.
The SMTT’s seven-point plan included:
- Embed consumer-centricity in policy and a national plan on charging infrastructure
- Develop and implement a nationally coordinated but locally delivered infrastructure plan
- Invest significantly to uplift all types of charging infrastructure, particularly public chargers, ahead of need
- Set binding targets to ensure adequate public chargepoint provision and social equity
- Enact proportionate regulation to deliver the best outcomes for consumer experience and expansion of provision
- Provide adequate enabling support to incentivise and facilitate delivery of charging infrastructure
- Ensure electricity networks are future-proofed and fit for purpose for zero emission mobility
The REA states that developing targets for EV chargepoint network growth may have positive impacts, but further discussion is needed on how such targets would be set, who would be responsible for delivering against them, and what support is provided to overcome barriers to installing new EV chargepoints.
REA says that to speed up the growth of the UK’s public EV chargepoint network, Government must move to address the bureaucracy that often delays chargepoint installations. However, unless great care is taken, appointing a regulator could serve to add, not remove, bureaucracy. A regulator should also not have price control powers for EV charging, as this will significantly impact commercial viability and investor confidence in EV charging. This would slow down, not speed up the growth of the UK’s EV chargepoint network.
Jacob Roberts, Transport Policy Manager at the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), said: “The REA shares many of the central aims that the SMMT have set out in their position paper – we agree it is essential that the UK’s EV charging infrastructure network meets the needs of all consumers, regardless of their location or demographic. We are open to discussing what role targets, or even a regulator, could play in delivering this.
“Let us not forget, however, that providing EV charging infrastructure is still a small but rapidly growing industry – 35% growth in chargepoint numbers in the last year alone. This growth has been possible because the UK has long been an attractive open market to manufacture, sell and operate EV chargepoints. We must take great care to ensure that the growth and investment in the UK EV chargepoint network is not stifled or distorted by adding more red tape or ill-conceived targets.
“Instead, we call on all stakeholders across the public and private sector – including the SMMT – to come together to discuss how we can overcome the practical and administrative barriers that are truly hindering the growth of the UK’s EV chargepoint network. Unless we do this, neither legally binding targets nor an industry regulator will have any impact on the growth of the UK’s EV chargepoint network.
“The REA and its members will continue to work with the Government to develop and implement the policies and support structures needed to achieve many of the points within the SMMT’s plan.”
