Rishi Sunak urged to make ‘critical’ electric car change after major ‘set back’
Rishi Sunak has been urged to “transform” motorway service stations to increase the number of electric car charging bays available to motorists.
The Government has been urged to accelerate the availability of power while the increase in infrastructure should be made a “national priority”.
The latest warning comes after disappointing data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed a slowing electric car market.
According to the experts, overall battery electric vehicle volumes fell by a whopping 17.1 percent, leading to a reduced market share of 15.6 percent.
Businesses purchased 77.4 percent of electric vehicles in November, with less interest among private owners.
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Ken McMeikan, CEO of Moto Hospitality called on the Government to do more in an attempt to ensure more road users make the switch.
He explained: “While the figures are a set-back, we are hopeful that if the Government acts swiftly on its decision to transform the planning system in favour of delivering low-carbon energy projects and prioritise EV charging hubs then this short-term trend will start to reverse.
“However, to make accelerated progress with EV adoption it is critical that the Government prioritises power to Motorway Service Areas to transform the number of EV chargers that are available to overcome ‘range anxiety’ which is the second biggest reason people are reluctant to switch to an electric car.
“In addition, car manufacturers need to find a way to equalise the price of EV cars to make them comparable to Internal Combustion Engine cars (ICE) as this is one of the biggest reasons that people are hesitating on switching to an EV car.
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“Moto alone requires 12 times the amount of the power we dispense today, by 2030, and the planning changes are likely to take too long to affect delivery of power over the next 2-3 years.
“I am urging the Government to accelerate the availability of sufficient power to major travel hubs like Motorway Service Areas and to declare the strategic road network as a national priority for power.
“We stand ready to work with the Government during its consultation to inform its plans and ensure they are delivered as quickly and effectively as possible.”
The Government recently announced a range of measures to speed up the installation of charging stations through their Plan for Drivers.
More funding has also been thrown into developing infrastructure with applications currently open to local authorities in the first round of the £381million Local EV Infrastructure fund.
According to the Department for Transport, the funding will help deliver “tens of thousands” more charge points across the UK.
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