Sadiq Khan: London electric vehicle charging points £35.7m funding announced

Londoners are to benefit from a £35.7m government investment to install thousands more electric vehicle charging points across the capital.

The money, secured via the government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, will be delivered directly to all 32 boroughs and the City of London.

An additional £3m will fund officers dedicated to supporting the deliver of the charge points across the boroughs.

The investment is seen as critical to the capital hitting its target of 40-60,000 charge points by 2030, as outlined in Sadiq Khan’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy.

London already has nearly 13,000 electric charge points, roughly a third of the UK’s total, up more than 200% since 2019.

It currently has one charging point for every four registered electric vehicles in the city, against a national average of one for every 12 vehicles.

London also has the most public rapid charging points by volume and share of any European city.

Sadiq Khan

The mayor said the new funding will help achieve the ambition of having at least one electric charging point on every street where needed in London.

Mr Khan said: “This is a bold ambition, and we will only achieve this by working closely with London boroughs and TfL to ensure public charge points are installed where they are most needed, making it easier, more accessible and more convenient for Londoners to switch to electric vehicles.

“Alongside our work to boost walking, cycling and public transport – such as with the new Superloop – this funding will help to build a better London for everyone – a city that is cleaner, greener, fairer and more prosperous for all.”

London Councils

The London Councils’ climate change, transport and environment lead, mayor Philip Glanville, said: “London boroughs have installed 9,000 charge points since 2016 but we know further extensive investment in London’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure is crucial to making it as easy as possible for Londoners across the capital to make the switch to cleaner travel options.

“This ambitious record of delivery for Londoners has only been possible because of the unique partnership between government, the mayor of London, TfL, London Councils and the boroughs and shows just what we can achieve if we work together.”

TfL

Alex Williams, TfL’s chief customer and strategy officer, said: “Londoner’s have been embracing electric vehicles in recent years, with the capital leading the way nationally. Toxic air in London is a public health emergency and reducing emissions and carbon dioxide which contribute to global warming is an imperative for our city.

“There is a comprehensive charging network across London to support the green transition. The capital now has nearly 13,000 public charge points, of which more than 850 are rapid or ultra-rapid. This is almost a third of the UK’s total and over a 200 per cent increase from 2019.

“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.”

City Hall Conservatives

Tony Devenish AM, City Hall Conservatives environment spokesperson, said: "I welcome the government’s investment in increasing electric vehicle charge points across London, which will make it easier for more residents to switch to electric vehicles.”

However, Mr Devenish added: “Sadiq Khan’s desperate attempts to take the credit for this Conservative government’s achievements speak for themselves, after seven years of his stealth taxes and greenwashing.”