Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has called for more electric car charging points to be installed in the city, tabling a government amendment to require supermarkets and railway stations to offer the facilities.
Electric cars are being hailed as a silver bullet solution to pollution problems in our cities, and if the UK transitions to a fully renewable electricity production, an important part of tackling climate change.
The government’s AEV bill will mean that petrol stations and motorway services will be required to provide charging points, if the bill comes in to law.
Wera’s amendment goes a step further, requiring supermarkets, car parks and railway stations (among others) all to provide charging points.
It would also give council’s the power to make sure that new offices and industrial developments include the technology in their plans.
Wera said: “Nitrogen dioxide is seriously affecting the health of Bath’s residents, and of people across the country.
“I welcome the government’s bill, but it has to go further to achieve a swift role out of this life saving technology.”
“We want to see more radical solutions being taken to solve the immediate problem of air pollution, and mitigate the existential crisis that humanity is facing in climate change.”
The Liberal Democrats have committed to pass a Green Transport Act and Air Quality Plan. It includes measures such as:
- A diesel scrappage scheme, and a ban on the sale of diesel cars and small vans in the UK by 2025.
- Requiring all private hire vehicles and diesel buses in urban areas to run on ultra-low or zero-emissions fuels within five years.
- Reform vehicle taxation to encourage sales of electric and low emission vehicles.
