London EV Show 2023: Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, Outlines London's Ambitious EV and Net Zero Goals
At the opening conference of the London EV Show 2023, Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor of Transport and Deputy Chair of Transport for London, delivered a speech highlighting London's commitment to being at the forefront of Europe's electric vehicle (EV) and net zero movement. Emphasising the urgency of climate action, Seb discussed that due to climbing temperatures, 2023 was the busiest summer for London firefighters since World War II, underscoring the city's vulnerability to climate change.
London's Net Zero Commitment and Clean Air Initiatives
Seb also announced London's ambitious target to achieve net zero by 2030, twenty years ahead of the national target. Highlighting the world's largest Clean Air Zone is London ULEZ, a significant step in reducing pollution and providing cleaner air for the capital’s residents.
Transportation Innovations: Elizabeth Line and Zero Emission Buses
The Deputy Mayor highlighted the Elizabeth Line, a major development in London's transport network, which facilitates one-sixth of the UK's rail journeys daily. In a move towards sustainable transport, one out of seven London buses are now zero emissions, with a goal to transition the entire fleet by 2027. Additionally, all black cabs and private hire taxis in London are mandated to be electric by the end of 2024.
ULEZ Compliance and EV Charging Infrastructure
Within the speech, he stated that an impressive 96% of cars in London are now Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) compliant. London has over 18,000 EV chargers, a 340% increase since 2019, making it the city with the most chargers in Europe.
Zest's Contract with Transport for London
Transport for London has awarded Zest, an electric vehicle infrastructure provider, a contract to install 39 new EV charging bays across 24 sites in south and southwest London by the end of 2024. This initiative targets high-mileage, commercial vehicles, including taxis and delivery services. Zest will manage these points for 15 years, with TfL benefiting from charging revenues and ground rent. This project is backed by the government-sponsored Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (CIIF), aiming to catalyse large-scale EV infrastructure projects.
London's EV Infrastructure Expansion
Seb went on to stress that to meet the increasing demand, London anticipates needing up to 3,900 rapid charge points by 2030, a 358% increase compared the current number of active chargers already available across all the boroughs. The city is exploring using more public land for EV charging bays and collaborating with various authorities and borough councils to expand the rapid charging network.
Future Goals and Rapid Charging Points
Looking ahead, London aims to have 40,000-60,000 charging points by 2030, with Mayor Sadiq Khan proposing the addition of 100 new rapid charge points. These points, including the 26 rapid charging hubs akin to petrol stations for electric cars, are crucial for encouraging the transition to electric vehicles.
In his closing statement, Seb Dance stated, "What London does today, the world will do tomorrow. For both our vendors and buyers, it is fantastic to see the TLF announce such ambitious plans for the capital’s EV infrastructure. The uptake of electric vehicles among consumers on a wider scale will only be successful through the implementation of a robust infrastructure, so it's encouraging to see the growth plans and opportunity available through the goals set by the Deputy Mayor. We hope these plans will set the wheels in motion for more local authorities to ensure their infrastructure is both sound and scalable, to keep up with the ever-growing demand".
