Devon’s residents are invited to give their views on Devon County Council’s (DCC) Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Strategy.

It is a major part of a larger strategy to reduce carbon emissions from on-road transportation which accounts for 30 per cent of all the county’s carbon emissions.

From 2030 sales of petrol and diesel vehicles will be phased out. The draft Devon Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy sets out how and where DCC will need to intervene to deliver the needed infrastructure to increase the uptake of electric vehicles across the county.

The strategy is just one of a series of documents that will form part of the emerging Local Transport Plan (LTP). The EV Charging Strategy, Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans, Devon’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, and rail plans for Devon Metro are essential to ensure that Devon achieves net-zero by 2050, as outlined in the Devon Carbon Plan.

The strategy itself includes details on numbers of current and predicted EV users, capacity, number and location of existing charging points, details about current local and national policy, and forecasts of future EV uptake and chargepoint demand.

Cllr Andrea Davis, DCC's cabinet member for climate change, environment and transport, said: “There are no ifs or buts; if we want to reduce carbon emissions and ensure that Devon becomes net-zero we must decarbonise transport.

"This strategy will set out what we need to achieve and help us to unlock further funding from Government for new electric charging infrastructure and will ensure that we are well placed to take advantage of new capital funding opportunities as they arise.

“We have almost completed delivering the first 80 car chargers in public carparks and we expect to be able to soon announce plans for more in the future. But this is just the start – we need many more.”

Cllr Stuart Hughes, DCC's cabinet member for highway management, said: “EVs will play a significant role in Devon’s ability to meet emissions targets, but a key barrier to the uptake of EVs is the availability of charging infrastructure.

“Road users won’t be willing to invest and make the change from petrol to EVs unless they can have confidence that there are plans in place to improve access to infrastructure and chargers are available where they need them.

“We have already made a good start, and by helping us with this consultation and by giving your views you can help us build on this."

You can give your views via DCC’s Have Your say Website, devon.cc/ev-strategy-consultation Members of the public can sign up for a webinar at 6pm on November 22. Businesses can sign up for a webinar at 6pm on December 6. To register, please email the project team at transportplanning@devon.gov.uk. Paper copies of the strategy and questionnaire will be available in every library in Devon.