Webinar will help councils overcome EV challenges

Transport + Energy is partnering with the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) to deliver an exclusive webinar entitled ‘Overcoming local authority challenges in the EV space’.

The event is designed to help provide guidance to local authorities on how to plan, develop and operate electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and features speakers from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles, Plymouth City Council and Zemo Partnership.

With a £1.3bn fund allocated to the rollout of public EV charge points the installation of this infrastructure will need to be delivered at a local and national level. This will need collaboration between local highway teams, central Government and the wider energy sector for it to happen.  

There are several challenges that need to be overcome – including the adoption of on-street charging points; delivering a long-term strategy for the required infrastructure; use of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs); engagement with energy networks; interoperability of chargers; and educating consumers.  

The event will bring together the relevant stakeholders to discuss these challenges and provide guidance on how they can be addressed.  

The discussion – which is taking place at 11am on 25 May 2021 – will challenge relevant stakeholders to consider the challenges that local authorities are facing in this space and to start implementing the solutions.   

Panelists include:   

  • Dan Turner, Low Carbon City Officer (Planning), Plymouth City Council 
  • Anthony Henderson – Head of EV Infrastructure Policy and Regulation, Office for Zero Emission Vehicles 
  • Sophie Adams – Head Of Consumer Experience, Office for Zero Emission Vehicles 
  • Jonathan Murray – Policy & Operations Director, Zemo Partnership (formerly Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership) 

Transport + Energy Editor Alec Peachey said: “Residents are now putting increased pressure on their councils to ensure that they take a position on the provision of public charging points for electric vehicles (EV). With the Government recently announcing its plans to bring forward the ban on sales of petrol and diesel vehicles to 2030 this will accelerate the sale of EVs.   

“Demand for charging points is going to increase exponentially in the next few years so it is important that local authorities don’t get left in the wilderness when it comes to the biggest revolution in road transport since the introduction of the internal combustion engine. 

“LCRIG has heard from many of its members about the challenges they’re facing in this space and felt it was important to address them head on and start working towards the solutions. Deadlines around climate change and net zero are now focusing minds more than ever and the decarbonisation of transport is a key facet in this. We have got a great lineup of speakers from both local and central government and I’d encourage everyone to attend this exciting event.”

The event will allow an opportunity for those who represent the UK EV charging sector to meet with the correct personnel from highway authorities to discuss the challenges, how they need to be overcome, and provide a course of direction. 

Ultimately, it is of vital importance that relevant stakeholders across the transport and energy sectors are brought together to help local councils prepare for the EV revolution. Finding the right technologies, processes and approaches will be key in helping the industry achieve this goal.   

Transportandenergy.com is partnering with the Local Council Roads Innovation Group (LCRIG) to deliver this exclusive webinar. 

The event will examine the following:   

  • Local authority successes and challenges 
  • The role of the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV)   
  • Delivering a long-term strategy  
  • Educating consumers  
  • The role of energy networks/EV supply chain 
  • Overcoming challenges and next steps   

You can find out more information about the event or register here.

Image: Shutterstock.

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