Cumbria will need around 30 times more electric vehicle chargepoints by 2030 than it currently has, a new report has found.
The Electric Vehicle Charging Deployment in Cumbria report, by Cumbria Action for Sustainability, has highlighted the scale of the challenge to put in place adequate electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to support the transition to EVs over the coming decade.
According to the report, the county is likely to need between 2,100 and 6,400 public chargepoints just to meet residents’ needs by 2030.
After this date, no new petrol or diesel cars will be sold in the UK, giving added impetus to the shift to electric vehicles as part of efforts to tackle climate change.
It also forecasts that these estimates may need to increase by up to 50 per cent to cater for the very high numbers of tourists visiting Cumbria at peak times.
The county also needs to plan provision for through-traffic, particularly along major arterial routes such as the M6 motorway and A roads.
The report estimates that Cumbria will need between 3,150 and 9,600 chargepoints to accommodate residents, visitors and travellers.
CAfS produced the report as part of a programme to install 100 new chargepoints in Cumbria, led by Charge My Street and funded by Innovate UK.
Nigel Jenkins, of CAfS, who authored the report, said: “While transitioning to low carbon transport presents a very exciting opportunity over the next decade, ready availability of chargepoints is vital to public confidence in switching to EVs.
“It’s critical that we understand the scale of the charging challenge in Cumbria, and that decisionmakers properly plan for a fit-for-purpose network over the coming decade.”
CAfS hopes that the findings in the report will encourage all sorts of organisations to start planning for how they will adapt to the changes that are coming – from hospitals to hotels.
Nigel added: “The forecasts we’ve produced are estimates only but we can be certain that we need to increase numbers by a significant order of magnitude. Even our mid-range estimates indicate we could need to add up to seventy new public chargepoints every month over the next nine years at suitable locations across Cumbria.
“This really illustrates the importance of planning and coordinating now for rapidly scaling up our charging infrastructure as we approach 2030.”
Lead strategy advisor for recreation and sustainable transport for the Lake District National Park Authority Emma Moody said: “We welcome this report and the work carried out by CAfS, which is a very thorough analysis of the future needs for EV charging. Many visitors and residents are already using the current network of EV chargepoints and we are working to increase EV charging in the Lake District, through projects such as the innovative solar roof charging we have recently installed at Brockhole. But, as the report highlights, more is needed, and this data will help us work with partners to plan for a low carbon future.”
While currently the expansion of the chargepoint network is largely market-driven, CAfS has warned that, without appropriate intervention, there are risks that people, communities and businesses may inadvertently be left marginalised or even excluded from the switch to electric transport.
The new report also identifies the associated challenges for electricity supply networks, for the logistics of businesses and the public sector, and implications for crucial sectors of the Cumbrian economy such as tourism.
While switching to EVs is vital to achieving Cumbria’s carbon reduction targets, CAfS stressed that the county must look at transport holistically. Phil Davies, low carbon development manager at CAfS, said: “We mustn’t become
focussed solely on replacing one type of private vehicle with another less carbon intensive private vehicle. We also need to support more sustainable forms of transport, including opting for public transport, walking, and cycling where practical.”