UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) is to invest £50 million ($69m) to extend grants and boost the charging network for electric vehicles (EVs) in the country, Kallanish learns from the department.

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which provides up to £350 towards a charge point, has been extended to next year and expanded to include people in rented and leasehold accommodation. At the same time, the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) will be opened up for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) together with the charity sector. Small accommodation businesses, such as B&Bs, can benefit from the funding, boosting rural areas, and tackling the range anxiety associated with long journeys.

In parallel, the department is launching a consultation on improving the charging experience to simplify payments and increase reliability. With the objective to build a public charge point network that is affordable, reliable and accessible for all drivers, the new investment matches the government’s commitment to end the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.

The proposals issued from the consultation will convey an easier access to charging points and will ensure that charging an EV will be as simple and fast as it is to refuel a petrol or diesel vehicle.

The £50m investment follows the £20m in funding announced last week for councils to improve the on-street charging infrastructure in their local areas, DfT adds.

The Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) England welcomes the government’s extension of key EV charging grant schemes and will run an online survey of EV drivers, as well as a series of workshops in March. Results will be gathered and presented to authorities in a consultation response to ensure the consumer voice is heard, the association says in a note.