Doncaster not keeping pace with electric vehicle charging rollout

Thinktank the Policy Exchange says there are still charging "blackspots" in regions across the UK, adding the speed of installations needs to increase to meet growing demand.

There were 51 public charging points in Doncaster at the start of January, according to figures from the Department for Transport.

That is a rate of 16 per 100,000 people, lower than the UK average of 31.

Since October 2019 – when figures began at a local authority level – Doncaster has seen 17 devices added to its supply.

Meanwhile, across the UK, an additional 5,700 devices were made available over the same period, taking the total number up to 20,800 at the start of this year.

In a bid to further boost numbers, transport minister Grant Shapps announced an extra £20 million was to be made available for local authorities.

However, a report by the Policy Exchange says the speed of the rollout needs to increase from the current rate to meet the planned ban on new petrol and diesel cars in 2030.

It also found a gap in coverage of the charging points across the UK, claiming the Government's funding scheme for local authorities had not been evenly distributed.

In a foreword to the report, Conservative MP Simon Clarke said: "Whereas a driver of a petrol car can travel confidently from Land's End to John O'Groats, knowing that they can refill the tank every few miles, that is not yet the case for electric vehicles.

"Some areas have naturally built up impressive coverage, such as central London, but vast swathes of the country have not. As with the enduring problems of broadband rollout which leave blackspots even today, the market misses out large parts of the UK, especially smaller towns and rural areas."

The DfT acknowledged the "uneven" distribution of devices across the UK in a report accompanying the latest figures. Electric cars have surged in popularity with manufacturers currently supplying a record number. There were 1,906 electric vehicles licensed in Doncaster at the end of September - up by 15 per cent from 2019.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.