Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reaffirmed Labour's commitment to tackling electric vehicle charging issues as part of the Government's push to help drivers give up petrol and diesel cars.
Speaking at a Commons Liaison Committee meeting this week, the Prime Minister acknowledged that charging infrastructure concerns remain a significant barrier for drivers when considering the switch to electric vehicles.
The commitment comes just days after Labour unveiled changes to the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, which pushes forward the phase out of new petrol and diesel cars to 2030 while providing greater flexibility for manufacturers.
Starmer identified charging infrastructure as one of two key factors influencing consumer decisions about electric vehicle adoption.
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The Prime Minister confirmed the Government will put more money into the EV charging network
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"The two things that impact people most in their decision whether to swap to an electric vehicle or not are first, the crossover price at the point at which it's as cheap to buy an electric vehicle as it is to buy diesel or petrol vehicle," he told the committee.
Starmer also noted this price parity is expected in the "late 2020s" and represents "the upfront cost of buying in the first place".
"The second is an anxiety about charging points," the Prime Minister continued, highlighting that these two factors would "make a material difference" to consumer adoption.
Addressing concerns from Transport Committee chair Ruth Cadbury, Starmer did acknowledge the geographic disparities in charging infrastructure across the UK.
He confirmed that the Government has "put more money behind the infrastructure for charge points to a point where there ought to be one being built every half an hour".
This commitment was part of the Prime Minister's recent announcements, though he clarified it "wasn't a new announcement" but rather "a reassertion of our commitment on charging points".
The Prime Minister also addressed concerns about charging accessibility for those living in flats or without home charging capabilities.
"I want to make sure that any of the money that then comes available is paid into a fund that deals with things like infrastructure in this country," Starmer said, adding that this is "where the pinch point is."
The Government's recent changes to the ZEVmandate mean that hybrid vehicles will now be allowed to be sold until 2035. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the package as "ambitious" and designed to "protect and create jobs, making the UK a global automotive leader in the switch to EVs".
The updated mandate includes increased flexibility for manufacturers up to 2030, allowing more cars to be sold in later years when demand is expected to be higher.
Small and micro-volume manufacturers, including supercar brands like McLaren and Aston Martin, will be exempt from the 2030 phase-out deadline.
The Prime Minister also highlighted technological advancements in electric vehicles that are helping to address range anxiety. "The new Range Rover I think now does 500 miles on its battery, which is way beyond what it could have done a few years ago," he noted.
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Keir Starmer acknowledged that price and charging points remain key barriers for drivers
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This comes as electric vehicle sales continue to rise, with the latest data showing March sales up over 40 per cent compared to last year.
