The Department for Transport (TfL) has published a ‘league table’ illustrating the country’s public electric car charging infrastructure.

There are now more charging locations than petrol stations, it says, but there are still over 100 local authorities with fewer than 10 public charging devices per 100,000 people.

New figures show that there are 15,000 charging devices across the country, equating to 22,500 places to charge.

London leads the way, with almost 4,000 public electric charging points installed in the region. Scotland has more than 1,500, with the North West, South East and South West just behind.

’The new normal’

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “Your postcode should play no part in how easy it is to use an electric car, and I’m determined electric vehicles become the new normal for drivers.

“It’s good news there are now more charging locations than petrol stations, but the clear gaps in provision are disappointing. I urge local councils to take advantage of all the government support on offer to help ensure drivers in their area don’t miss out.

“To help increase the provision of charging locations, the government is offering grants for the installation of charge-points on the street, in work and at home. We are also offering grants to lower the upfront cost of these cars so everyone is able to experience the benefits.”

Funding is available

Minister for the Future of Transport George Freeman added: “Mapping charge-points and producing a league table of availability by council area is intended to raise awareness.

“There are now more than 22,500 public charge-points and at least one rapid charge-point at over 95 percent of all motorway services areas.

“To help level up the country, we’ve recently doubled the funding available for councils to build charge-points on residential streets.”

Funding for charging points is available via a number of schemes, including:

• A £5 million on-street residential charge-point scheme.
• Workplace charging scheme, offering £500 per charge-point socket and £10,000 per business.
• Electric vehicle homecharge scheme, offering £500 per socket.

Data for the ‘league table’ is sourced from Zap-Map. The information can be viewed here.

In a boost to electric car owners, E.ON has switched on its first ultra-fast electric vehicle charging points in the UK.

The pair of 175kW charge points are located on the site of the former Armada public house, just off the M6 on the outskirts of Birmingham.

Ultra-fast charging delivers up to 100 miles of electric car range in just 10 minutes.

They support both CCS and CHAdeMO connectors, making them suitable for the vast majority of electric vehicles in the UK. They’re the first of 180 ultra-fast chargers promised by the firm by 2020.

To use the charging points, customers have the option of paying by contactless or their smartphone, using the E.ON Drive app, or logging on to the E.ON EV Pay website for pay-as-you-go access.

‘Landmark year’

Michael Lewis, chief executive of E.ON UK, said: “These new ultra-fast chargers are our first of their type in the UK and will give further support to the growing number of drivers moving away from fossil fuels towards electric vehicles.

“Whether it’s at home, at work, or out and about we’re developing the solutions to help drivers run their vehicles conveniently and with confidence.”

Poppy Welch, head of Go Ultra Low, added: “This announcement is the latest development in what has been a landmark year for the UK’s charging infrastructure

“With the UK already being home to one of Europe’s largest rapid charging networks, and a steady increase of charge points across both rural and urban locations, these additions from E.ON will now make it even easier for electric motorists to charge up on the go.”

BP Chargemaster unveiled its first 150kW ultra-fast electric charging point at the Fully Charged Live Show at Silverstone in June. The target is to have 100 units live at 50 BP forecourts by the end of the year.

Click here for a guide to electric car charging points.

Only a fifth of UK drivers support the introduction of green number plates for zero emission cars.

This news comes as the government launches a consultation that it says will “turbo-charge the zero emission revolution”. It believes green number plates will raise awareness of electric vehicles and stimulate sales.

It also says local authorities will be given powers to incentivise and reward electric car drivers, such as allowing cars with green number plates to enter bus lanes and to pay less for parking.

The government highlights a similar scheme in Ontario, Canada, where drivers of electric cars were given free access to toll lanes and high occupancy vehicle lanes. The province saw an increase in EV registrations during the trial.

’Badge of honour’

But there are concerns that the green number plates could become a ‘badge of honour’, possibly resulting in a divide between EV drivers and those in traditional petrol and diesel vehicles.

RAC head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes, said: “While the sentiment seems right, there are question marks as to whether drivers would see this as a badge of honour or alternatively it could foster resentment among existing drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles.

“On the face of it, drivers we’ve questioned don’t seem too impressed – only a fifth think it’s a good idea and the majority said the number plates wouldn’t have the effect of making them any more likely to switch to an electric vehicle.

“Incentives may make a difference in the short term and the possibility of free parking and the permission to use bus lanes at certain times could encourage some to switch. However, many drivers remain cool on the idea even with this encouragement.”

‘Positive and exciting’

The government is seeking views from the industry and public, right down to the design of the number plates. Three proposals are on the table: a fully green number plate with black lettering, the addition of a green flash on the exiting yellow and white plates, or the addition of a green dot or symbol.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “The UK is in the driving seat of global efforts to tackle vehicle emissions and climate change and improve air quality, but we want to accelerate our progress.

“Green number plates are a really positive and exciting way to help everyone recognise the increasing number of electric vehicles on our roads.

“By increasing awareness of these vehicles and the benefits they bring to their drivers and our environment, we will turbo-charge the zero emission revolution.”

The consultation opens today and closes on 14 January 2020.