Electric vehicles are a greener alternative to traditional petrol- or diesel-powered vehicles, however, a major deterrent for drivers who are considering switching to electric is the lack of EV-charging points, meaning that drivers are plagued with “range anxiety,” or are, in other words, constantly worried about not having enough charge in their vehicle to get them to their destination.
Fortunately, the UK has recently announced new plans to address this shortage which includes requiring all new homes to be fitted with charging points for electric vehicles.
“We’re regulating so as to require new homes and buildings to have EV charging points, with another 145,000 charging points to be installed thanks to these regulations,” said Prime Minister Boris Johnson while delivering a speech at the Confederation of British Industry’s annual conference.
On top of new homes, buildings, and supermarkets being required to install EV charge points starting in 2022, buildings that are undergoing major renovation will also be included in these regulations. These changes are necessary if the UK wants to reach its target of halting the sale of new diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2030.
“Our homes and buildings should be designed to help meet the challenges of the climate crisis, including charging points as electric vehicles have a significant role to play in building a zero-carbon future,” said Friends of Earth’s head of policy Mike Childs in reaction to these plans.
“New housing should also include secure bike storage and access to safe cycling routes and high-quality public transport to provide real alternatives to driving,” he added.
While there are still a lot of systemic changes that have to be made to ensure that we are reducing CO2 emissions as much as possible, the UK’s plan to flesh out the EV infrastructure is certainly a step in the right direction toward a greener future.
