Anthony Browne, the technology and decarbonisation minister, has today announced grants for schools, cash for councils, and new proposals for increasing chargepoint numbers.

The initiatives follow recent laws mandating the switch to electric vehicles, the end goal of which is to have 100% of new cars and vans sold in the UK to be zero emission by 2035.

The support package includes a new grant for state-funded schools and education institutions, providing up to 75% of the cost to buy and install chargepoints and up to £2,500 per socket.

Chargepoint installations usually cost between £1,500 and £2,500, depending on factors such as area and installation type. The grant will be paid for by the Department for Transport.

Local councils can also receive a share of the £381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund for chargepoint installations. An electric vehicle infrastructure training course for council officers is being created to help with the delivery of installation projects. It will be open to local authorities from mid-March, following a trial.

The government has also launched a consultation looking at ways to speed up chargepoint installations across the country. The proposals would give EV chargepoint operators the right to carry out street works using a permit, which can be issued faster and more cost-effectively than a license.

The decarbonisation minister said that “this latest set of measures will mean EV owners everywhere benefit from easier and more convenient access to chargepoints.”

He further added that the government has “already spent over £2 billion to ensure a smooth switch to EVs,” and that it’s “committed to supporting drivers as we transition towards net zero in a proportionate way that doesn’t burden working people.”

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• UK Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate Becomes Law

Infrastructure aside, DIGIT reported on new figures earlier today that show it’s taken twenty two years for one million EVs to be sold in the UK.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) believe that the government introducing attractive consumer incentives—such as halving VAT on electric vehicle purchases—would act as a significant driver for faster EV uptake.