Government 'to miss' car charger target

The Government is set to miss its target for the installation of high-powered electric vehicle chargers at motorway services, according to a leading motoring organisation.

In March last year, the Department for Transport pledged to ensure that every motorway service area had at least six rapid chargers by the end of 2023 – but the RAC says only 27 out of 119 in England currently meet that target.

Rapid charge points can add around 100 miles of range to an electric vehicle in 35 minutes and are seen as crucial to encouraging more motorists who use their cars for long journeys to make the switch to electric.

RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: "There is much work to bed one before the end of the year if the Government's target is to be met.

"Installing these types of units is not straightforward as connecting to the electricitygrid is expensive and time consuming, but clearly more needs to be done.”

He added: "The importance of ensuring sufficient high-powered charging is readily available up and down our motorway network can't be emphasised enough.

"A lack of charging facilities is rapidly becoming one of the most widely quoted reasons for drivers not going electric.”

AD fT spokesperson said :" While 97% of motorways service areas already have charging available, industry has plans to install many 100s more in the coming months.

"We've put more than £2bn into accelerating the transition to electric vehicles, and our £950m Rapid Charging Fund will further boost charging to support long-distance journeys."