A new report has found that London is leading the way in the roll out of electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the UK with Ealing playing its part as drivers switch from petrol and diesel over to electric.
In Ealing there are around 6,000 electric vehicles in use while across the country, latest data shows there are 981,615 electric vehicles being driven on the roads.
According to new data from Volkswagen Financial Services UK, overall London has more charging points than anywhere else across the UK with 122.5 charging points per 1,000 people. By comparison the North West of England only has 29.7 per 1,000 people while Wales has 39.4 per thousand and Scotland has 59.2 per 1,000 people. To cope with demand, The Competition and Markets authority estimates that the UK will need around 480,000 public charging points in operation by 2030 for people to have access to
Currently in Ealing, there are 450 charging points and the Council says it is on track to have 2,500 by 2026 across the borough.
In February 2023, Councillor Deirdre Costigan, deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action at Ealing Council said: “We are committed to tackling climate change and improving local air quality. More electric cars on local roads in place of petrol and diesel vehicles also mean lower emissions and cleaner air.”
Mike Todd, CEO Volkswagen Financial Services UK told EALING.NEWS: “London is leading the charge in the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging points, setting a shining example for other regions across the UK. As environmentally conscious drivers in Ealing and beyond increasingly opt for EVs, it is imperative that the availability of EV charging points meets demand to support continued growth in the market.”
Mr Todd added: “Although it has improved in recent years, Ealing’s pollution is currently 1.4 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value. The availability of EV charging points will enable more people to switch to EVs, which will in turn have a positive impact on improving air quality across the city.
“The importance of continued infrastructure rollout is vital. London should maintain, or even improve on, its current trajectory. It is, however, paramount that the UK creates a level playing field nationwide. Only then can we truly unlock the benefits of EVs more quickly and effectively, both in London and beyond.”
Neil Reynolds, chair of Ealing Greens told EALING.NEWS how they believe the charging points should be placed and not take pavement space from pedestrians. He said: “The borough does need charging points, however the council should make sure that these chargers do not continue to take pavement space from pedestrians and that they are placed on “build outs” on the road.”
 charging points across the UK with Ealing playing its part as drivers switch from petrol and diesel over to electric.){kind=link}