The transition to EV: ensuring greener, cleaner transport for all

THE NEXT five years are crucial for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure to meet net-zero targets. At SSE, we want charging points in convenient locations that are accessible and fair for everyone.

Charge anxiety affects many drivers, but what if there was the added concern of not knowing if your mobility vehicle can be accommodated at a charge point? The charity Motability has estimated there will be 2.7 million disabled drivers in the UK in 2035, and up to half will be wholly or partially reliant on public charging infrastructure. We are creating large charging bays, which are suitable for mobility vehicles, as well as vans and bigger cars. We also want this to be a key consideration for our customers and partners when they install charging points.

We must have charging points and hubs ready-to-go, so people are confident to buy EVs. Drivers must be able to get up and go, safe in the knowledge of how and where to charge their vehicle, just as they would now if they needed to fill their tank. We need landowners such as local authorities and businesses to work with us to establish not only locations for EV infrastructure but also where there is suitable land to put it in place.

Land use and availability is a key focus for us as we set out ambitious plans to create a network of 300 EV charging points across the UK and Ireland, with the first 17 being rolled out by the end of this year. Businesses and local authorities can use this year’s Decarbonisation Summit to speak to us about how to turn pockets of land or larger sites into EV hubs.