North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has today backed a proposal for a Bill which will require all new-build homes to be fitted with at least one electric car charge point, but emphasised that this only represents part of the wider infrastructure required.
Speaking in the Debate on a Member's Legislative Proposal – ‘Electric Vehicle Charge Points’, Mr Isherwood said it is crucial that “there are charge points, the right rates, in the right locations to give fleets and individuals confidence to go out and invest in an Electric Vehicle” and expressed concern that transition to electric and other forms of low emission vehicle is much slower in Wales than in the rest of the UK.
In December, Mr Isherwood Chaired the first session at December’s Policy Forum for Wales Keynote Seminar: “Energy policy in Wales and enabling the transition to a low carbon economy - priorities for cutting emissions, infrastructure and investment, and supporting the economy”, and in today’s Debate referred to the comments made by the expert panel.
He said: “We heard from the expert panel that “we do see evidence that transition to electric and other forms of low emission vehicle is underway, but it’s underway much slower in Wales than in the rest of the UK and that’s measured by the uptake of Electric Vehicles and by provision of charger point infrastructure”.
“That there's a long list of things that public sector organisations could and should be doing – including facilitating a network of charge points and leading by example, by encouraging adoption of Electric Vehicles within public sector fleets and their supply chains using their leverage through procurement, and that it’s absolutely crucial that there are charge points, the right rates, in the right locations to give fleets and individuals confidence to go out and invest in an Electric Vehicle”.
He added:
“My next Son-in-Law is a qualified electric vehicle charger installer. I recently met Flintshire-based businesses delivering both training and installation. All are waiting for the dam to burst.
“Yet UK Department for Transport statistics published last December show only 60 publicly available rapid chargers across Wales, with none in Gwynedd, Conwy, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent or Torfaen – and only 1.8 per 100,000 population, compared with 3.6 in England and 7.5 in Scotland.
“In his recent Statement on the North Wales Metro, the Transport Minister referred to the new Park and Ride site and Active Travel routes on the Deeside Industrial Park - good things; however, I am advised that only two double chargers are being installed for 240 parking spaces at the Park and Ride, and that even this took intervention with the (County) Council. We've got to do better”.
