‘Green transport’ is a key component in helping the UK to reach its net zero goals by 2050 and in improving public health. Local authorities are central to ensuring the adoption of greener modes of transport. Sam Illsley, Head of Public Sector at Mer, discusses the importance of electric mobility and the legislative changes forcing local authorities to create electric vehicle (EV) charging strategies.
Transport is responsible for one-quarter of UK greenhouse gas emissions. This is both detrimental to the environment, but also public health, as human-made pollution is responsible for between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths per year in the UK.
‘Green transport’, which can significantly decarbonise UK transport and reduce emissions to improve public health, will play a central role in the future of UK transport. Electric vehicles must be at the heart of that future because of our varied transport needs.
To ensure they’re making progress with green transport, local authorities and public sector bodies need to focus on the installation of 100% renewable energy powered public charging infrastructure. New legislation also means that local authorities without a plan should prepare to act fast and engage the support of experienced charging infrastructure partners.
Electric vehicles and renewable energy are central to the ‘green’ transport portfolio
Green transport includes several different ways of getting around. Local authorities and public sector bodies can create transport hierarchies to promote the adoption of some methods over others. For example, Transport for Scotland prioritises walking, wheeling and cycling over other forms of transportation to decarbonise transport and create less polluted neighbourhoods. But central to the overall decarbonisation of transport are electric vehicles.
Compared to their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts, electric vehicles have significantly reduced emissions over their total lifecycle, along with zero emissions at the tailpipe. They are also significantly more suitable for many types and lengths of journey in comparison to active modes of transport, such as public transport and fleet vehicles. And, they are more suitable for the broad range of environments, from city centres to rural hamlets, that local authorities and public sector bodies are responsible for.
To focus on one mode of transportation to the detriment of others would therefore be short-sighted. Local authorities and public sector bodies can promote the use of active travel for shorter journeys while supporting the adoption of electric mobility (public and commercial) for longer journeys. Each mode of transport will play a crucial role in a truly ‘green’ transport portfolio.
Of primary importance to any strategy however, should be the use of renewable energy sources in tandem with electric charging. Using renewable energy for charging infrastructure will help to decarbonise transport significantly more than relying on power derived from fossil-fuelled power plants.
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure partners that power all their charge points with 100% renewable, zero-carbon energy are best placed to support green transport initiatives. When setting out to build charging infrastructure, public sector bodies and local authorities can make renewable charge point solutions the priority. As zero carbon, they are the ‘green’ electric mobility option that facilitates journeys unsuitable for active transport.
Legislating a green strategy
As a central piece in the green transport puzzle, EV adoption must be supported by the large-scale installation of the necessary zero-carbon charging infrastructure. The UK is currently at 50,000 charge points. The current growth rate, as estimated by Zapmap, suggests that the UK will likely hit the 100,000 milestone in August 2025. This will be a major achievement. However, unless the rate of growth increases, Zapmap’s figure suggests that the UK won’t reach the government’s goal of having 300,000 charge points by 2030.
Local authorities will soon be responsible for accelerating the growth rate. In October 2023 the UK government announced new legislation to increase the growth of public charging infrastructure and make pricing and data more transparent. The new legislation will force councils to produce local electric vehicle charging strategies.
Any strategy will have many things to consider. For example, a significant portion of any new charging infrastructure will need to be public, to support drivers who are in transit and need to recharge away from their home, and the 40% of UK households that don’t have driveways, which means they are unable to charge at home.
Strategies will also need to cover the type of chargers available and where they’re located. Ultra-rapid chargers can be located where drivers’ dwell times are naturally shorter, while standard chargers can be located where dwell times are longer. The power available at potential charging sites will also be an important consideration, as some locations may require distinct network operator (DNO) upgrades.
Local authorities will need to look inwards too, addressing their own electrification process. Three-quarters of local authorities are operating fleets made up of more than 90% ICE vehicles. But, by transitioning their refuse collection vehicles alone, local authorities could save up to 330 kilotons of carbon emissions per year.
Mer has partnered with more than 50 public sector entities in the UK, delivering scalable electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions to hospitals, county councils, and other public sector bodies. Learn more about Mer’s support for local authorities here.
