The move to electric cars - 20th December 2021

New homes and buildings in England will be required by law to install electric vehicle charging points from next year, the prime minister has announced.

The government said this will see up to 145,000 charging points installed across the country each year. New-build supermarkets, workplaces and any buildings undergoing major renovations will also come under the new law.

The move comes as the UK aims to transition to electric cars, with all new petrol and diesel car sales banned from 2030. The government claims the new rules will "make it as easy as refuelling a petrol or diesel car today." A spokesperson explained that "simpler ways to pay" to charge vehicles through contactless payments would also be introduced at "all new fast and rapid charge points".

Britain currently has around 25,000 charging points. However, the Competition and Markets Authority has stated it could require 10 times that number by 2030.

The switch to electric vehicles is essential to the UK hitting its climate targets, as cars and taxis accounted for 16 percent of UK emissions in 2019. UK electric car sales have started growing. 10 percent of cars sold in 2020 were electric, compared with 2.5 percent in 2018.

However, concerns have been raised about the lack of charging infrastructure. The Policy Exchange think tank has warned the rollout of charging points has fallen behind schedule. It risks rural areas and small towns missing out.

Mike Childs, Friends of the Earth's head of policy, approved of the government's announcement. He considers that electric vehicles have a "significant role to play in building a zero-carbon future."