What steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in residential areas with on street parking?
Welsh Government works closely with Transport for Wales to support local authorities to increase the knowledge and skills of officials involved in EV charging infrastructure across Wales.
We have developed national standards for EV charging infrastructure, setting best practice recommendations for safe, accessible and reliable public EV charging in Wales. They are for use by the public sector, community enterprises and delivery partners and form an informative best practice guide to support Wales towards its net zero carbon targets.
Welsh Government expects the majority of the EV charging infrastructure in Wales to be delivered by the private sector and officials are actively working with chargepoint operators, local authorities and utilities to accelerate the stream of private investment in charging infrastructure.
We have awarded £6m grant funding to local authorities to develop publicly accessible charging points and associated policies to support residents without private off-street charging infrastructure in 2024/5.
The Welsh Government Infrastructure Charging procurement framework gives local authorities access to a range of providers of on-street charging infrastructure. They select the solutions, and suppliers most appropriate to them. Some go for a single solutions and suppliers, and others choose a range of solutions and providers.
A number of different solutions are being trialled across Wales including cross-pavement gully solutions in Blaenau Gwent, Carmarthenshire and Newport. Transport for Wales is monitoring these and will advise Welsh Government of the outcomes in due course. Other on-street solutions being commissioned and installed include lamp-post conversions and below street solutions.