The UK government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund has invested £35.7 million in London’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The investment will be used to build public charge points across all 32 boroughs and the City of London in collaboration with the London Mayor, London Councils, and Transport for London (TfL).
The initiative aims to address the increasing demand for electric vehicle charging stations in areas without off-street parking. In addition to the grant, the LEVI fund will provide £3 million to assist councils in delivering the charging projects.
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Sales of new fossil-fuelled cars and vans will be prohibited in the UK from 2030, which will make electric vehicles the norm in London. Mayor Sadiq Khan predicts that the city will need 40,000 to 60,000 chargers by 2030 to meet the expected demand.
TfL’s Chief Customer and Strategy Officer, Alex Williams, said, “We know that with the explosion in electric vehicles many more charging sites will be needed, particularly for those without on-street parking. London is keeping up with demand by making public land available for infrastructure and ensuring the charging points a world city needs are being built at pace and in significant numbers.”
Last year, London City Hall and TfL announced the release of land for 100 new ultra-rapid public charging points on London roads. The 100 new charging points are expected to be operational by the end of 2023.
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Currently, London has 13,000 charge points, with most of them concentrated in its Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) area, which restricts access to polluting vehicles. Sadiq Khan confirmed last year that he would expand the ULEZ London-wide by August 2023, which will operate across all of London up to the existing Low Emission Zone boundary.
Sadiq Khan stated, “This funding will help reach our ambition to have at the very least one electric vehicle charge point on every street where needed. With this initiative, we can create a cleaner and greener London for future generations.” The UK Government’s investment in London’s electric vehicle infrastructure is a step towards achieving a sustainable, zero-emissions future.
