Powering progress: The impact of EV infrastructure on local communities

Electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure development can prove a challenge for many councils. Beyond the financial constraints the public sector faces, the processes of planning and procurement can act as obstacles and delay potential EV charging projects.  

However, as the UK transitions away from polluting internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and EV adoption rises, many drivers without access to off-street parking will become increasingly reliant on the provision of public EV charging. As such, public bodies have a key role to play to ensure communities can access the charging infrastructure they need.

While rolling out EV charge points will be essential to ensure local councils are prepared to support their communities, local authorities also stand to gain from the provision of EV charging infrastructure. This blog post outlines three of these key benefits.

1. Environmental impact

Supporting the transition to low carbon vehicles will significantly decrease transport emissions and contribute to climate change mitigation. Urgent environmental action is needed to achieve the UK's net zero targets and ensure the global temperature does not rise by more than 1.5 degrees. The transport sector currently accounts for 26% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, making it the highest emitting sector and therefore a key consideration in any net zero strategy.

By implementing an accessible EV charging strategy, local authorities will be supporting the shift to low carbon electric vehicles and greatly reducing the carbon impact of its region.

2. Air quality

The provision of EV infrastructure and its associated decrease in carbon emissions will also be beneficial to community health. Issues associated with respiratory and cardiovascular health in residential areas can directly be influenced by a decrease in harmful exhaust fumes. In fact, research conducted by Imperial College London illustrated a decline in heart and circulatory issues present in 5 out of 8 low emission zone (LEZ) studies, including a drop in blood pressure issues and a decrease in fatal heart attacks.

As more citizens gain confidence in the availability of charge points and make the switch away from polluting petrol and diesel cars, air quality will improve. Therefore, local authorities engaging in EV charging strategies stand to improve the health of their residents.

3. Economic impact

The growing EV market could create unprecedented economic growth opportunities. As local authorities engage in EV charging strategies, more opportunities to upskill a workforce to meet the EV skills gap will arise.

For communities, this means new job opportunities to build and maintain essential EV charging infrastructure and for local authorities this means an economic boost. According to Edie, the transition to EV could create 40,000 highly skilled jobs within the sector by 2030 and has the potential to catalyse a 6.4% growth in UK GDP, equivalent to £240bn.  

Zest is anticipating future charging demand in rural and urban communities and working with local authorities to provide a charging network that makes the shift to EV convenient, easy and available to all regardless of economic or geographical constraints. We're 100% funded by the government-sponsored Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund, making us a safe and reliable choice. If you’re interested in finding out more about Zest’s charging solutions, get in touch at sales@zest.uk.com.

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