Only a quarter of local authorities in the UK have published EV transition strategies, despite being encouraged to do so by the UK Government and the Local Government Association (LGA).  

Only 28% of local authorities have published EV transition strategies, with a further 23% in the process of devising a strategy, according to FairCharge

Freedom of Information requests carried out by the FairCharge campaign show that only 28% of local authorities have published EV transition strategies, with a further 23% in the process of devising a strategy. 

In a response to a Parliamentary Questions, Minister for Energy and Clean Growth Greg Hands MP said that the Government “will continue to monitor and engage with local authorities as they progress with their strategies and will work to help mainstream capability and leadership”.  

The Government’s EV Infrastructure Strategy, published on last month, said the Government would put “an obligation on local authorities (subject to consultation) to develop and implement local charging strategies to plan for the transition to a zero-emission vehicle fleet”. 

The strategy also warned that local leadership was essential to creating new investment opportunities and inspiring local confidence in EVs, and said that without consistent prioritisation of charging infrastructure deployment across the country, some areas are at risk of being left behind. 

EV campaign group FairCharge, formed earlier this year and headed by former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson, said the figures were extremely worrying and stressed the need for central government to take a more active role in driving public charging provision. 

FairCharge spokesman Quentin Willson commented: “BEIS and DfT say that local authorities are best placed to consider local needs, and this of course is true, but we can see today that without a big role for central government in supporting councils, there is a real chance that much of country will be left behind in terms of public charging infrastructure. Councils clearly need to up their game too, but their needs to be direction and oversight from central government.” 

He added: “The Government should waste no time in placing a statutory duty on local authorities to produce EV transition strategies.” 

Commenting on the research, André Dias, founder and CTO at GoWithFlow, said: “Any transition towards electric vehicles, whether this is part of an overall ‘sustainability’ effort or a standalone project requires conscious, defined strategy and real commitment to carbon reduction. Without this, and without the knowledge of the advice and expertise that exists, the steps required might be seen as too complex at this stage in industry and infrastructure development. 

“Also, the hesitation may not be on the part of the council itself. But, rather on the mandated propellants for such change – and, we’d assume, prioritisation given the circumstances we still find ourselves in. 

“Furthermore, when you consider the perceived difficulty and administration associated with selling products and services to public bodies in the UK, private enterprises are more than likely focusing their sales efforts elsewhere, where the sales cycle might not be quite so arduous.”