EV charging points

We are working to support a transition to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) in London through the delivery of a reliable public network of electric vehicle charge points. In total London now has nearly 7,600 charge points – one third of of the UK’s total - however we need to rapidly expand this network even further, particularly in the outer London Boroughs which are currently significantly under-served.

The scheduled ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles has recently been brought forward by the Government to 2030 and will speed up the change to electric vehicles. In order for the public to have the confidence to make the transition from petrol and diesel to electric vehicles it is essential for a comprehensive network of charge points to be achieved as soon as possible.

A solid EV charging infrastructure, and an increased uptake in the use of electric cars, will be a significant step towards achieving the net zero emission targets supported by the Mayor of London and the majority of London boroughs. It will improve air quality and will be crucial in preparing London for the phase out of petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030.

What are electric vehicles? More Information

There are two main types of electric vehicle:

• Battery-electric vehicle (BEV) A vehicle powered only by electricity, also known as a ‘pure’ or 100% electric car. The vehicle is charged by an external power source, i.e. at a chargepoint. These vehicles do not produce any tailpipe emissions. Most battery-electric cars have a real-world range of 100-300 miles on a single charge.
• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) This is a vehicle that has a battery, electric drive motor and an internal combustion engine (ICE). It can be driven using the ICE, the electric drive motor, or both, and can be recharged from an external power source. Typical PHEVs will have a pure-electric range of up to 50 miles. Once the electric battery is depleted, journeys can continue in hybrid mode, meaning that there is no range limitation. PHEVs are only efficient if they are charged regularly, otherwise they can be more expensive to run than a conventional petrol or diesel vehicle.

Why do we need electric vehicles? More Information

Transport is now the most polluting sector in the United Kingdom. In 2019 it produced the equivalent of 122 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO2e). This represents 27 percent of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions from cars and vans alone account for nearly a fifth of the UK’s total emissions.

Tackling these emissions is critical if we are to successfully achieve our climate change goals. The government has announced that we will end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in the UK by 2030, with all new cars and vans being fully zero emission from 2035. This historic step will significantly reduce carbon emissions to safeguard our planet and reduce harmful pollutants in our towns and cities. The UK is on course to be the fastest G7 nation to decarbonise cars and vans and in order to achieve this we need to encourage and implement the necessary opportunities and infrastructure for zero-emission vehicles to replace existing polluting vehicles.

Why do we need electric vehicle charging points? More Information

Many London residents do not have access to a driveway or off-street parking. Charging an electric vehicle is currently a challenge for those who park their vehicle on-street, and trailing cables across footways poses an unacceptable risk to pedestrians and vulnerable users. Additionally, the ability to charge a vehicle in public places whilst at work, shopping or at leisure gives people a much greater level of convenience and takes away the worry of running out of charge.

Example of signage at a charging point, to indicate parking place reserved for the charging of electric vehicles

We are installing a comprehensive network of EV charge point posts, each around 1m (3ft) in height, at suitable locations at the edge of the footway in residential areas for the use of residents who do not have access to off-street parking. These chargepoints will charge at 7kW, providing at least 20 miles of range from each hour of charging, making them ideal for overnight charging for local residents. The introduction of these chargepoints will support local people who wish to own an electric vehicle but do not have access to off-street charging facilities. We will also be increasing our existing provision of on-street charge points in public shopping areas and amenity hubs.

Public electric vehicle charging points increase convenience for electric vehicle owners and make electric vehicle ownership a possibility for people who do not have access to charging facilities at home.