The Government is being warned that banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 may not be realistic because the electric vehicle charging network isn’t close to being ready.

Sir John Armitt, head of the National Infrastructure Commission, says there is a “real risk” to the deadline because of the slow progress of installing new electric chargers.

Drivers will not switch away from fossil fuel cars quickly enough if they are not confident of being able to charge electric vehicles, the commission has warned.

It wants the Government to “initiate a step change in the rate of deployment of charge points to get on track to deliver the infrastructure needed to facilitate the 2030 end to new diesel and petrol car and van sales”.

It says, “There is not yet a visible core network of rapid chargers across the country, and significantly more publicly available charge points, including on street charge points, will be needed by 2030.”

The Commission also says that to achieve tangible improvements in local transport, government must “Move away from competitive bidding for multiple, centrally controlled, short term funding pots and make fast progress towards devolving five year integrated funding settlements for transport spending to local authorities outside the city region combined authorities,” and “Support local authorities in developing plans for major urban transport schemes in a number of priority cities, including plans to develop a mass transit system for West Yorkshire.”

Read the review here.

(Picture – Highways News)