Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy FAQS
What role do EVs play overall in tackling the climate change emergency?
EVs will reduce carbon emissions and nitrogen dioxide levels, however they still emit particulate matter through brake and tyre wear, which negatively impacts air quality. Public transport, walking or cycling is often more suitable for many short trips currently made by car, with a target of 71% of trips to be undertaken by these modes by 2041. The council therefore has a programme of wider transport schemes to help achieve this.
Aren’t electric cars too expensive for this to concern me?
The initial up-front or monthly leasing cost of an Electric Vehicle (EV) is typically higher than the same petrol or diesel model at the moment. However, an EV is much cheaper to run, because of the lower fuel costs. The initial up-front cost is coming down, with some estimates predicting that EVs will cost the same as a petrol or diesel equivalent by 2025-27 and more second-hand options becoming available. With the UK Government requiring 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain to be zero emission by 2030, more people are starting to make the switch.
How do you refuel an EV?
There are three main types of chargers: rapid chargers, fast chargers and slow chargers. They are used in different settings, depending on how long a vehicle is likely to be parked up. Rapid chargers are used at service stations where people want to refuel as quickly as possible. Fast chargers tend to be used at locations where people may spend about an hour or two, like a supermarket, cinema or town centre car park. Slow chargers are designed to refuel a car over several hours such as overnight and tend to be in more residential locations. Households with a driveway typically fit their own charger. On-street slow chargers in Hounslow are usually retrofitted into lamp-columns to minimise their impact on pavements.
At rapid chargepoints, it can take as little as 50 minutes to recharge a typical electric car with a 60kWh battery from 20% to 80% battery. Fast chargers will charge a typical EV in approximately 3 hours, while slow chargepoints can achieve a full charge in under 8 hours.
While rapid chargers offer the fastest charging times at a higher cost, they are ideal for drivers looking to quickly resume their journey. On the other hand, opting for a lower kWh rated chargepoint can be more cost-effective if you are not in a rush.
What are the UK Government plans for EVs?
The UK Government plans to ban the sale of all petrol and diesel cars/vans by 2030. All new cars and vans must be fully zero emission at the tailpipe by 2035 (i.e. the ban will extend to include hybrid vehicles). While there are alternatives to EVs, such as hydrogen, there are an abundance of EVs on the market and the battery technology is mature. The UK Government has published its national strategy for how the necessary EV charging infrastructure will be provided. It identifies that local authorities will have a role in providing EV charge points, especially to serve households without off-street parking.
Why have we developed an EV strategy?
The UK Government’s EVI (Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) strategy wants local authorities to take on a leadership role. Growth in the number of EVs is expected to be rapid and there is a need to increase the number of chargepoints to accommodate this. To ensure the roll-out of EVI across the borough is successful, the council has written an EV charging strategy.
What is the strategy trying to achieve?
The strategy will see a move away from installing EVI based on requests and will deliver minimum standards of chargepoint provision, across the borough, based on need. Once minimum standards have been met, additional chargepoints will be installed based on usage which will be monitored. The strategy has 5 key objectives to measure the success of the EVI roll out. These consist of:
- Focusing our EVI delivery to realise the greatest reduction in harmful emissions
- Achieving a good minimum level of service for all residents, businesses and visitors
- Delivering a chargepoint network which is good value for money
- Providing EVI in a fair and transparent way
- Providing EVI which supports more efficient use of our streets
In total, the Council aims to deliver 2,000 new EV chargepoints across the borough by May 2026.
What type of chargers are there currently in the borough?
Currently the majority of chargepoints, delivered by the Council, are slow chargers and have been installed based on requests we have received. However, there are also some fast chargers and rapid chargers that have been delivered. The strategy aims to provide a better distribution of chargepoints across the borough, based on the availability of household off-street parking.
Although the majority of new chargepoints will still be slow chargers located in residential areas, over 200 fast chargers and over 35 new rapid chargers will also be delivered. We will then monitor utilisation data to understand charging preferences, which will inform the further development of the programme. Please read our strategy for further details.
Can I use a chargepoint located in a controlled parking zone (CPZ)?
Only those displaying a valid permit for that zone will be permitted to charge their vehicle within the EV bays during CPZ operational times; outside of these hours, the chargepoints can be accessed by other EV users.
A public charge point near me isn’t working?
If there is an issue with an on-street chargepoint near you, please get in touch by emailing electricvehicles@hounslow.gov.uk and we will raise this with the chargepoint operator.
Will the grid be able to support the demand for EV charging?
As part of the consultation, we liaised with the District Network Operator (DNOs), who are interested in fast and rapid provision, as these place the highest energy demands on the network. The UK Government has already been engaging with DNOs as part of the development of the national strategy on Electric Vehicles.
Can I charge my EV by running a cable from my house across the pavement?
No, we do not allow this because even if a cable cover is used it still creates a trip hazard for pedestrians. The effect of several households on a street doing this will make the pavement a much less user-friendly space, especially for those with mobility problems or pushing a pram. EV drivers should be aware that they will be liable for any injury claims made by members of the public if they do trip over a cable laid across public pavements.
Am I able to apply for a private chargepoint?
No, the strategy aims to evenly distribute publicly available chargepoints across the borough. The strategy seeks to ensure that public chargepoints are provided conveniently close to high mileage drivers such as taxi and private hire drivers. To see how requests are handled when allocating public charge points, you can find information in Appendix 1 of our strategy.
Now the strategy has been approved, what happens next?
Further site assessment work will be undertaken to inform the exact locations of the new chargepoints. A tender process will be run to identify the chargepoint operators we will be working with to deliver the points. Further consultation with properties in the vicinity of the proposed chargepoints will also be taken, as part of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order process. It is expected that delivery of the points will commence from spring 2024, in phases, with all 2000 points delivered by spring 2026. Further information can be found on the EV Delivery page.
How is the council funding the project?
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) announced a new fund at the start of the 2023/24 financial year titled Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI). The funding is intended to deliver larger scale EVI projects with the previous On-street Residential Charging Scheme (ORCS) continuing but with smaller amounts of funding available.
LEVI is intended to deliver electric vehicle infrastructure at scale and at pace. The fund is also intended to accelerate the commercialisation of, and the investment in, the local charging infrastructure sector. Much of the administration and advice on the fund is being undertaken by the Energy Savings Trust (EST).
The delivery of the EV Strategy is expected to be funded by charge point operators/private sector and public grant funding from the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund.
I have a question on EVs – how can I get in contact with the council?
Please email us at electricvehicles@hounslow.gov.uk with your query and one of the team will come back to you within 10 working days.
Alternatively, you can call us on 0208 583 3322, where you can leave a voicemail and one of our team will call you back within 10 working days.
