Mayor of London announces plan for 83 new EV charging points around the capital, reports Noah Vickers, Local Democracy Reporter

Sadiq Khan has claimed that government ministers needed to “pick up the pace” in providing EV infrastructure nationally.

The mayor’s comments came as he announced his plans to install more than 80 new rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the capital.

Suppliers will be invited to deliver some 83 new EV rapid or ultra-rapid charging bays on several main roads, comprising 45 bays in North London – including Islington, Enfield, Redbridge, Haringey, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Barnet and Camden – and 38 south of the river.

Khan published his EV infrastructure strategy in December 2021, which forecast that London will need between 40,000 to 60,000 public charge points by 2030 and up to 4,000 of these will need to be rapid. London already has almost a third of all the charging points in the UK, with 12,800, of which more than 900 are rapid or ultra-rapid.

The mayor said: “These sites will play a huge part in supporting high mileage, essential road users such as commercial vehicles and businesses and will help us work towards building a greener and more prosperous London for everyone.

“But while London is leading the way, we need to see more action nationally to pick up the pace delivering electric vehicle infrastructure.

“When it comes to making the transition to cleaner vehicles and delivering the benefits of cleaner air, this must be considered an urgent national mission.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We’ve put more than £2bn into helping people switch to electric vehicles and have taken the lead in supporting the private sector installing charge points.

“In the first three months of the year, we have seen more than 760 rapid or above speed charge points installed across the UK, up 11% over those months.”

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