Electric Vehicles: Infrastructure — [Peter Bone in the Chair]

Noted the opportunity for Orkney's surplus renewable energy to be used for car charging through projects like ReFLEX, suggesting a need for decentralised thinking about grid usage.

Andrew Selous discussed the challenges faced by constituents without off-street parking and the high cost of public charging point connections. He suggested cutting VAT on public chargers to make them more affordable and called for interoperability requirements for charging points receiving public funds. Selous also highlighted issues with cables running over pavements, suggesting cable gullies as a solution.

Suggested that incentivising the switch to electric vehicles in rural areas should come through helping people charge their vehicles at home due to practicalities of public charging points.

Stressed the importance of transitioning to zero-emission vehicles, noting Scotland's progress in installing public charging points. Highlighted that Scotland has 33% more public chargers per capita compared to England and a 16% higher increase in EVs on the road. Criticised the UK Government's lack of progress towards their charger installation targets.

The infrastructure in Northern Ireland is antiquated and not fit for the EV revolution. There are only 18 publicly facing rapid charging points, with a ratio of 600 vehicles per charger compared to Scotland's 66 and England's 155. The National Franchised Dealers Association described the situation as ruinous, leading to low consumer confidence in electric vehicles.

Mr Jamie Stone expressed concern over the Highland Council's proposal to increase charging costs for electric vehicles to 70p per kWh for rapid chargers and 35p for slower chargers. He argued that this could deter both tourists and locals, as it makes charging expensive in rural areas. Mr Stone also pointed out a lack of charging points in Altnaharra, suggesting the council should support initiatives like adding a charging point at the local hotel. He called for national consistency on electric vehicle charging costs, with consideration given to budgetary assistance from UK and Scottish Governments for councils facing financial challenges. Additionally, he advocated for considering VAT reduction or purchase price subsidies for electric cars as sales increase. Intervened briefly with a humorous comment: 'We were doing so well until then.'

Asked about accounting of CO2 emissions from early destruction and replacement of petrol/diesel cars with electric vehicles, questioning the environmental benefit if electricity comes largely from fossil fuels.

Mr Madders highlighted the importance of transitioning to electric vehicles, citing examples of local manufacturing changes. He pointed out significant challenges such as workforce reductions by Ford and production delays by Britishvolt, blaming a lack of Government commitment and intervention for these issues. Concerned about consumer hesitancy due to high costs and limited charging infrastructure, he called for more government support for off-street parking areas and better planning by local authorities.

Kerry McCarthy raised concerns about the reliability of EV charging points, noting a significant gap in public charging infrastructure. She highlighted that only 8,800 public chargers were installed last year against the target of 30,000 annually by 2030. The MP stressed the importance of strategic planning for grid connectivity and questioned the delay in funding allocation from the £950 million rapid charging fund announced in March 2020. She also expressed worries about a lack of government intervention to support green industries like EV manufacturing, citing the US Inflation Reduction Act as an example of proactive measures.

Discussed difficulties faced by families due to city centre clean-air zones and high electric vehicle prices, urging government help to make EV ownership easier.

Asked if Ministers should urgently invest in charging points to ensure parity across regions, making EV ownership more attractive and feasible for the public. In his last Budget statement, the Chancellor announced that EVs will no longer be exempt from vehicle excise duty starting in 2025. This raises concerns about whether it could impact the public's willingness to prioritize purchasing an electric vehicle.

The hon. Gentleman secured the debate, noting that the UK is behind both government targets and European standards in electric vehicle infrastructure.

Referenced the need for government support to transition van production in Luton towards electric vans through a ZEV mandate.

While supporting public access to charging points, Stephen Hammond highlighted that local councils should change byelaws to allow people without off-street parking to use cables safely for EV charging, which is a popular campaign in his constituency.

Asked for an intervention to be addressed briefly. Does my hon. Friend agree that so much has been promised by Government on this issue, but in so many constituencies—including my constituency of Birmingham, Hall Green—people are missing out on being part of delivering the climate change agenda? When will the Government deliver on those promises by delivering EV charging points for many households?

Climate change poses a significant threat, and the transport sector must transition to electric vehicles (EVs) to meet net zero targets. However, current infrastructure roll-out is insufficient, with only 25% of the required number of charging devices installed in 2021. There are more public charging points in Westminster than in many northern cities combined, exacerbating regional disparities. Charging costs have increased by 50%, making EVs less cost-effective compared to high-emission alternatives. The lack of standardised payment methods and accessibility issues for people with disabilities also hinder the transition.

Commented on Welsh Labour's cancellation of major building projects and argued that increasing electric vehicles should be prioritised with better scrappage schemes and grants.

Asked if the hon. Member supports 'pay as you drive' road pricing to charge for miles driven rather than any other method. Owning a car is essential for many, but the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is crucial for decarbonising transport. However, the lack of EV charging infrastructure, especially in regions outside London, is hindering this transition. Only 37% of motorists have access to home charging points, leading some to use unsafe DIY solutions which are dangerous. The current grid capacity constraints also limit the installation of new chargers, and VAT discrepancies penalise public charger users compared to those who charge at home. Asked if the Minister would give way.