The Labour government has extended a popular electric vehicle (EV) charging scheme for another year, providing a boost to drivers and signaling continued investment in EV infrastructure. This decision follows a period of significant growth in the deployment of EV chargers across various locations, especially schools.
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood hailed the expansion as a “significant milestone” and highlighted the positive impact on charging infrastructure nationwide. She noted that the extension of the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) and the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant provide the “certainty needed to continue rolling out chargepoints” across diverse locations, including schools, offices and residential buildings.
One notable achievement is the installation of a record number of EV charging sockets at UK schools, with 1,407 now in place. These installations have been supported by £3 million from the Government’s WCS. Schools have the added benefit of opening these chargepoints to local residents, integrating charging into daily routines while also generating additional revenue.
Chris Norwood, Headteacher at Northfleet School for Girls, shared that their car chargers have generated over £2,000 in additional school funding. This revenue has been used to create an additional farm classroom. The school has also embraced environmental initiatives, such as solar panels and LED lighting, saving over £500,000 in energy costs since 2017. Norwood expects that by modeling environmental practices, the school will help students “be proactive in this area in their adult lives.”
The government’s commitment to EV infrastructure is further demonstrated by the £200 million announced at Budget 2024 to power chargepoint rollout, alongside £6 billion of private investment. This funding aims to ensure the addition of tens of thousands of chargers in the coming years, paving the way for the government’s goal of installing 300,000 public chargers by 2030. Currently, there are over 74,000 public chargers available nationwide, with almost 20,000 added last year alone.
Regarding the latest developments in the EV landscape, Greenwood stated, “Schools are the beating heart of our towns and communities and rolling out chargers here shows we are building a practical and reliable charging network designed around people’s daily lives.” She emphasized the importance of reaching 1,000 sockets at schools, building on a record January for electric car sales as consumer confidence in the electric transition continues to grow. “This is helping support jobs, make the UK a clean energy superpower and deliver our Plan for Change.”
