CHARGE points for electric cars could be needed in Cumbria by the thousands by 2030.

The Electric Vehicle Charging Deployment in Cumbria report, by Cumbria Action for Sustainability, has highlighted the scale of the challenge to install ample electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support the transition to EVs over the coming decade.

Cumbria is likely to need between 2,100 and 6,400 public chargepoints just to meet residents’ needs by 2030.

After this date, no new petrol or diesel cars will be sold in the UK, giving added impetus to the shift to electric vehicles as part of efforts to tackle climate change.

Nigel Jenkins from CAfS said: “While transitioning to low carbon transport presents a very exciting opportunity over the next decade, ready availability of chargepoints is vital to public confidence in switching to EVs."

Nigel authored the report. He said: “It’s critical that we understand the scale of the charging challenge in Cumbria, and that decisionmakers properly plan for a fit-for-purpose network over the coming decade.”

CAfS hopes that the findings in the report will encourage all sorts of organisations to start planning for how they will adapt to the changes that are coming – from hospitals to hotels.