However, the government has reversed plans that required every shop or office in England to have an electric car charger installed. This would apply even if they had a 20-car parking lot.
But the Department for Transport (DfT) has now said it will only be compulsory for new or refurbished commercial premises.
DfT replied to the consultation and said that they are moving because of concerns over business costs.
Boris Johnson, last month, announced that sales of petrol- and diesel vehicles will cease in 2030.
Braintree in Essex is home to the UK’s first ever electric forecourt. Johnson announced last month that the UK’s first electric forecourt will be located in Braintree, Essex.
Environmental campaigners and car industry experts have warned this could lead to charger access lagging behind the growing demand for electric vehicles, The Guardian reports.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reports that plug-in vehicles accounted for 28% of UK’s November new vehicle sales.
Greg Archer, the UK director of campaign group Transport & Environment said: ‘It is inexplicable that a government committed to phasing out conventional cars has failed to follow through and implement its own proposals from more than two years ago, and instead say it needs longer to consider the options.’
However the DfT’s said it would draft an alternative policy, and that it wanted a ‘more tailored approach’ for non-residential buildings in its consultation response.
The company declined to disclose who objected to the policy because of cost, although only a few respondents voiced concerns over who would be paying.
The average cost of a commercial charging point ranges from £1,000 to £1,500 + VAT, according to renewable energy installer Spirit Energy.
According to a spokesperson for DfT, The Guardian was informed by a DfT representative that “We recently introduced world-leading legislation, which requires new houses and other non-residential structures, like offices, supermarkets and shops, to have associated charge points installed.
“This project will install up to 145,000 additional charge points in England every year. This will ensure that consumers can buy homes prepared for an electric future. Additionally, more charge points will be available at workplaces and shops.
“With around 80 per cent of all EV-charging occurring at home this is a substantial step forward in our acceleration towards net zero and the powering up of the electric revolution.”
Boris Johnson announced last month the “world-leading” move that will require all new buildings and homes to have electric vehicle charging stations by next year. Speech to the Confederation of British Industry Annual conference, which announces legislation for driving an electric car “revolution”.
He explained that we will need new houses and buildings with EV charging points. Another 145,000 charging point are to be added as a result of these regulations.
‘We are investing in new projects to turn wind power into hydrogen, and the ten-point plan investments have already triggered about £90billion of private sector investment.’
After he revealed a new environment plan in November, which included introducing curbs 10 years earlier than initially planned and a ban from 2030 on new petrol or diesel cars, the Prime Minister faced backlash.
Mr Johnson, heralding a ‘green industrial revolution’, launched a ten-point, £12billion plan for the environment, saying it could create 250,000 jobs and slash the country’s carbon emissions.