Agenda item

A draft Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Strategy had been initiated in 2020.  Following the COVID pandemic, rapid changes in the electric vehicle market, and the publication of the national EV Infrastructure Strategy in March 2022 the Council had refreshed and extended the scope of this study to also consider the role of electric buses, taxis, the Council’s fleet vehicles, and how to increase the number and type of charge points most efficiently.

The previous work undertaken had been very technical and would be maintained as a standalone background research document known as the ‘Electric Vehicle Study 2022’.  A shorter ‘EV Action Plan’ had been developed from the evidence in the Study, as well as input from Council officers, feedback from Members, and assistance from the Energy Saving Trust who administer the multiple government EV charge point funding streams.

The Study and Action Plan were considered key in supporting the continued uptake in EVs across Buckinghamshire and the delivery of key targets in Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy 2021.

RESOLVED –

That the Buckinghamshire Council’s Electric Vehicle Action Plan (EVAP) 2022-2027 be ADOPTED.

Transportation currently contributed 51% of carbon emissions in Buckinghamshire, with 65% of these generated by cars.  The uptake of EVs in Buckinghamshire was higher than the national average (0.9% of population owned an EV, versus 0.6%), reflecting the relative affluence of the population, and was shown in Appendix 1.

The Government’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan 20203 included ambitious targets for phasing out internal combustion engines across various vehicle types including buses, taxis and fleet. The most challenging being the banning of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, vans by 2035, and HGVs by 2040.

In light of the Government’s targets a draft Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Strategy had been produced for the Council by consultants Jacobs in 2020.  However, progress on adoption of the strategy had been delayed due to the COVID pandemic.  To reflect rapid changes in the EV market, and in order to extend the scope of the original strategy to include buses and the Council’s vehicles in line with the Council’s adopted Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy 2021, an update to the work had been commissioned as the previous work undertaken had been very technical.  That original work would be maintained as a standalone background research document known as the ‘Electric Vehicle Study 2022’.

A shorter ‘EV Action Plan’ had been developed from the evidence in the Study, as well as input from Council officers, feedback from Members, and assistance from the Energy Saving Trust who administer the multiple government EV charge point funding streams.

The Study and Action Plan were considered key in supporting the continued uptake in EVs across Buckinghamshire and the delivery of key targets in Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy 2021.

The Cabinet report also included information on the Action Plan’s objectives, short term actions/objectives (to 2024/25) and on medium term actions/objectives (to 2025/27).  In the short term it was intended to double the number of EV charging spaces across Buckinghamshire, compared to February 2022 (this would equate to 175 new parking bays by 2023/4), focusing on coverage in areas currently without access to a charge point.  In the medium term it was intended to continue to provide and extend a high quality, efficient and comprehensive publicly available EV charging network across the council area, and to support the delivery of 1000 charging spaces across Buckinghamshire by 2027. The Cabinet Member referred to feedback from the Energy Savings Trust who provided feedback to Councils on action plans who had commented that the target was realistic and achievable. The Council had agreed a new capital funding allocation of £200k per annum for four years. There were further funding opportunities from the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund (LEVI) to provide innovative trials for on street charging. Other technologies were also being looked at such as hydrogen.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change reported that providing the right infrastructure for electric vehicles was critical to achieving the carbon neutrality target for 2050 and reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality.

The Leader asked about the infrastructure for rural areas and the Cabinet Member responded that they would work with town and parish councils to look at innovative ideas and also to increase provision of home charging. One of the aspects of the LEVI bid was to look at terraces that had no off street parking and looking at cable gullies in pavements and wireless charging through lampposts or street bollards. At home charging would also be addressed through the Local Plan. In the last Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan all new developments would have to have charging points (10 houses) and car parks would need to provide charging points. Storage would also be a factor.

The Leader asked another question about cars overstaying in electric vehicle charging spaces and using them as a parking facility. The Cabinet Member referred to a penalty charge if cars overstayed.

In answer to a question regarding electricity generation the Council’s energy from waste plant provided a considerable amount of energy. Reference was also made to the fact that some charging points may also have solar panels as well.

RESOLVED –

That the Buckinghamshire Council’s Electric Vehicle Action Plan (EVAP) 2022-2027 be ADOPTED.