Government minister aims to double UK’s fast charge network by 2024

George Freeman targets 50,000 electric vehicle rapid charging points within next four years

Government minister aims to double UK’s fast charge network by 2024

The government minister in charge of future transport planning aims to double the number of electric vehicle rapid chargers available in the UK within the next four years.

The move is hoped to ensure the government achieves its goal of phasing out the sales of pure petrol and diesel-engined cars by 2040.

George Freeman MP, Department for Transport minister of state, said: “By 2024, I’d like to more than double the number of rapid charge points to over 50,000.

“That would give even more people across the country the chance to drive electric vehicles – and we need to think about a balance between following where the uptake [of electric cars] is and reassuring tomorrow’s purchasers that we’re building for them.”

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The UK currently has around 24,000 charging points.

Speaking at the launch of the Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce report on the transition to electric cars, Freeman said the electric vehicle switch has become more pressing “because of the pace of climate change, and the pace of popular public opinion” on environmental issues.

“It’s clear to me the public want us to grip this coherently.

“People are prepared to make sacrifices, but they need to know those sacrifices will count towards a bigger global goal.”

The report made a series of proposals to boost the popularity of EVs, including allowing ‘roaming’ between charging point operators, a public information campaign to give advice on EVs and greater collaboration between the automotive and energy industries.

Related: Most-polluting vehicles may be pulled from UK this year, carmakers say

He added: “For the transition to EVs to be a success, we’re going to have to move from the early adopters to the mass adopters, the people in my constituency who don’t really care.

“They just want to get from A to B, and if we can save them some money and help them contribute to a cleaner and greener society, they’ll come with us – but most of all they’ve got to get from A to B.

“That focus on what people actually want, rather than what we think they want, is really important.”

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