£15m ‘boost’ to Welsh EV charging points

Plans have been outlined by the Welsh Government to invest £15m to increase the number of electric vehicle charging points across Wales.

The funding, confirmed by deputy climate change minister Lee Waters, will be used to increase the number of chargers. It follows £26m already invested in charging infrastructure across Wales since 2021, which has created more than 1,600 charging points so far.

Additionally a private sector taskforce has been set up to engage the market and break down barriers to investment, accelerating the roll-out of infrastructure, it said.

The new cash complements the Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) fund, which aims to kick-start EV projects for the Welsh Government as it looks to reach a charging point for every 20 miles of the strategic trunk network across Wales by 2025.

Funding to local authorities includes Wrexham Council receiving £1.86m over two years to roll-out EV charging facilities at a charging hub in the city centre as well as sites in remote, more rural locations across the county, and Cardiff Council has received £900,000 for the next two years to roll-out EV charging in the region and plans for twelve electric refuse collection vehicles.

Deputy Minister for Climate Change, with a responsibility for transport, Lee Waters said: “Drivers need to have the confidence to make the switch to electric vehicles as demand increases and that’s why we are committed to creating high quality electric vehicle infrastructure across Wales.

“Most of this work will be delivered by the private sector but our role is to facilitate private sector investments across Wales and ensure equality of access.”

Cllr David A Bithell, Deputy Leader and Climate Champion at Wrexham Council, said: “We are pleased to receive this funding which will enable us to continue our work to help people to move to EVs through both the creation of a mobility hub in the city centre and also supporting some of our smaller and more rural communities with facilities to charge EVs where they may not have access to off road parking.”

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

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