EV range to improve as new charge points announced

Nine local authorities will receive government funds to create a network of more than 1,000 charge points

Drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) will soon be able to take advantage of a network of more than 1,000 new charge points across England.

They will be created in Dorset, Durham, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Kent, Barnet, North Yorkshire and Warrington.

The winners of the pilot also include Midlands Connect - with Lincolnshire as a lead authority.

The network will include faster on-street charge points and petrol station-style charging hubs.

It will also create a commercial EV charging infrastructure, the government said.

The £20m scheme, which is part of a wider £450m project, supports the government's drive to encourage more motorists to go electric as the country moves towards net zero, the Department for Transport (DfT) said.

The scheme would help residents without private driveways to have better access to EV chargers, as well as growing the charging network across the country, the DfT said.

It would support the nation's uptake of zero-emission vehicles and enable more people to drive and charge "without fear of being caught short, no matter where they are", it added.

The government said it wants more people to have confidence in buying electric cars

The pilot is backed by £10m of government funding, supported by an additional £9m in private cash. A further £1.9m will come from public funds across the local authorities.

Decarbonisation minister Trudy Harrison said: "We want to expand and grow our world-leading network of EV charge points, making it even easier for those without driveways to charge their electric vehicles.

"This scheme will help to level up electric vehicle infrastructure across the country, so that everyone can benefit from healthier neighbourhoods and cleaner air."

AA president Edmund King said: "It is essential that more on-street chargers are delivered to boost the transition to zero-emission vehicles for those without home charging."

The scheme will allow local authorities to provide feedback on how to grow the network and the role the private sector can play, said the DfT.