North Yorkshire Council is set to release a new electric vehicle (EV) strategy aiming to tackle rural charging limitations.
The Council outlined its intention to install 70 EV chargepoints across the county, which will be installed alongside battery energy storage units. These will capture green energy produced from local solar panels and be sympathetic to the rural landscape, the Council said.
The initiative has already secured £2.2 million in funding from the national Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) pilot scheme. The Council was invited to bid for a further £4.88 million in funding from LEVI in March.
But with the Council predicting 724 chargers to be needed by 2025, and 3,161 charge points by 2030, members of the executive are due to meet on 2 May to consider the findings of a public consultation which will help shape the EV charging infrastructure strategy.
Executive member for climate change, councillor Greg White, said: “The roll-out of comprehensive EV charging infrastructure is key to achieving the county’s carbon zero target.
“The recent consultation asked the public about EV usage and gathered views on our proposals and further ideas. The findings will influence the delivery of EV charging infrastructure as we strive to give residents the confidence to consider electric as a credible choice.”
Rural areas in particular pose a challenge for charging infrastructure which must be overcome to support the rising EV community, which according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), surpassed 1.1 million this year. By incorporating an array of low-carbon solutions, this challenge can be overcome ahead of the 2030 sales ban on fossil fuel internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
“We have already made huge steps in the delivery of EV charging infrastructure thanks in part to the pilot LEVI funding – the highest amount secured by any local authority in the country,” said executive member for highways and transport, councillor Keane Duncan.
“The rural nature of North Yorkshire means delivering charging points is more difficult, but we are ready to rise to the challenge to ensure our area does not fall behind.
“After extensive feedback from the public, we are looking to adopt an ambitious strategy. This will support North Yorkshire residents and businesses as more and more make the switch, and ensure we remain a destination of choice for visitors with EVs.”
