A report commissioned by the Cardiff Capital Region’s Transport Authority (pdf) has estimated that to meet an aspiration for 38% of cars and vans being electric powered by 2030, 170 rapid chargers will need to be installed by 2025 and 1,500 by 2030.
The infrastructure is expected to cost £68million (at current prices).
The presumption is now in favour of large charging hubs over on-street charging facilities.
The report also considers possible alternatives to electric vehicles, including hydrogen – which is expected to “achieve significant market penetration by 2030” – and renewable biodiesel for HGVs. There is, however, greater uncertainty over plans for hydrogen fuelling stations when compared to electric charging points.
The UK Government currently plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. The City Region is currently overseeing a £1.8million Welsh Government-backed electric taxi pilot and there are plans for a similar scheme for electric buses too.
As of 2020, there were only 368 plug-in vehicles in Bridgend – equivalent to 0.41% of the total number of vehicles in the county (and the third-highest rate amongst the ten Cardiff City Region local authorities). There were also only 8 charging stations in Bridgend.
