App aims to help drivers make switch to electric vehicles

A new app which will help drivers to see which electric vehicles best suit their lifestyle has received Government backing.

As the UK prepares to host the COP26 climate summit this November, government is working with industry to provide the tools and practical advice drivers need to go electric.

The app called EV8 Switch – backed by £2.7 million of UK Space Agency funding – launched on World EV Day yesterday (9 September) and calculates how much money UK drivers could save by switching to an EV compared to their current petrol or diesel vehicle. It also provides details on the carbon dioxide (CO2) savings and air quality improvements they could achieve.

Drivers can also see which electric vehicles would be the most suitable for them based on their current vehicle and how switching to electric could fit in with their current lifestyle. Those with the app can also see how close their nearest chargepoints are, and which journeys can be completed without the need to top-up en-route.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “This World EV Day, I want to not only provide easy access to the tools that people need to feel confident about making the switch, but also to make sure that chargepoints are accessible, affordable and recognisable.

“That’s why we have already committed £1.3 billion to accelerate the rollout of charging infrastructure up and down the country. And as we look forward to COP26 and beyond, our vision is that the UK is at the forefront of the zero emission transport future, creating thousands of green jobs in the process.”

Together with Electrifying.com, the Department for Transport has also produced a Beginners’ Guide to Going Electric (PDF, 2MB), to help drivers understand what’s involved in switching to an electric car. The guide provides practical advice and top tips as we accelerate towards a zero emission transport future.

With just months to go until COP26, the government is also announcing that Minnie Moll, Chief Executive of the Design Council, and Duncan Wilson OBE, Chief Executive of Historic England, will sit on the steering board to support its chargepoint design project, alongside architects Sowmya Parthasarathy, experienced masterplanner, and Professor Alan Penn, Chief Scientific Advisor at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. They will provide expertise to shape a design that could see chargepoints become as recognisable as the red post box, London bus or black cab.

The resulting design will be unveiled at COP26 in Glasgow this November.

Science Minister Amanda Solloway said: “As we get ready to host the major UN climate summit, COP26, in Glasgow later this year, the UK is leading the way in using space to help us build back greener. With innovative government-backed projects such as this harnessing the power of space, making the switch to an electric vehicle will be easier than ever before, helping us take a giant leap towards our net zero ambitions.”

Founder of Electrifying.com Ginny Buckley said: “We know that switching to an electric car can be a daunting prospect with a host of new information to absorb and jargon to cut through. But it’s not as complicated as it may seem and our research shows that once you’ve gone electric you won’t want to go back to a petrol or diesel car. We’re delighted to have teamed up with the government to help clear the air for drivers with a straightforward, unbiased and jargon-free guide for World EV Day.”

Image: Shutterstock.

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