Logistics UK response to DfT electric vehicle chargepoints announcement

Wednesday 24 February 2021

Welcoming the Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) announcement of a £50 million boost for electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints for those in leasehold and rented accommodation, as well as the expansion of the Workplace Charging Scheme, Denise Beedell, Logistics UK’s Policy Manager for Vans and Urban, comments: 

“This announcement is a positive step forward in the government's drive to decarbonise light commercial vehicle (LCV) operations. Respondents to a Logistics UK EV survey noted that access to overnight chargepoints is a key barrier to uptake so we are pleased these concerns have been considered and that additional funding is now available for van operators who take their vehicles home, provided they have access rights to off-street parking.  

“The expansion of the Workplace Charging Scheme, which provides funding for up to 40 chargepoints per premises, to small and medium enterprises should be sufficient to cover operators, fleets, staff and visitors for companies of this size. However, sufficient power infrastructure must also be in place to meet this increased demand for electricity before any chargepoints are installed; Logistics UK is calling for a fair and equitable way of apportioning costs for such energy supply upgrades at commercial premises. And, to lead to a greater uptake of EVs among LCV operators, we continue to push for greater electric van model grants, especially for heavier vans over 2.5 tonnes.” 

Logistics UK (formerly FTA) is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With COVID-19, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.