"Electric vehicle network expansion could cost up to £800m in West Midlands"

[dutchman]

The figure was quoted in papers discussing the future of electric vehicles in the West Midlands



Expanding the network for electric vehicles in the West Midlands could cost as much as £800m over the next ten years it has been claimed.

That was the estimate in papers that recently went before the West Midlands Combined Authority's (WMCA) Environment Board.

The authority claims 'a modest cost estimate' for the roll-out of electric vehicle charging points over the next 10 years 'could be £200m-£800m'.

The figure was quoted in papers discussing the future of electric vehicles in the West Midlands, with the Environment Board due to discuss a West Midlands-wide approach during its meeting.

The strategy conversation comes in response to the need to make the transition to a 'zero carbon' economy, something the WMCA aims to achieve by 2041 at the very latest.

In the West Midlands region there are 1,450 chargepoints, which works out at 5.6 per cent of UK total.

In its attempts to expand the network for electric vehicles, the WMCA has come up with a collaborative strategy which will see constituent authorities working together to ensure an even and cost-effective roll out of charging points.

The strategy will see "the creation of a collectively owned Delivery Company (DelCo) that contracts with a private sector Operating Company (OpCo), which would deliver the charging infrastructure on-street and in publicly controlled off-street parking and other locations".

In terms of funding, it is believed that the WMCA could bid for funding from the Government Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund, with papers noting that as much as £200m could be secured from this source, with an additional £200m in private funding helping to get the project moving.

[rebbonk]

... 'could be £200m-£800m'.

Quite a bit of variation there. Did Dianne Abbott do the calculations?

[dutchman]

... 'could be £200m-£800m'.

Quite a bit of variation there. Did Dianne Abbott do the calculations?

[dutchman]

It's funny how all the TV motoring journalists decided to test an electric car at the same time?

The last time something like that happened was when Dyson bribed all the tech journaists on YouTube to pretend they'd just bought his latest vacuum cleaner. They ended up looking pretty stupid and at least one had his reputation damaged permanently.