The numbers of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging stations on U.K. highways and motorways are destined to increase in the near future as the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act passed through Parliament on Thursday.
According to a statement on the U.K. government鈥檚 website, the Act gives the government new powers to force motorway service stations and large petrol retailers to install EV charge points across the U.K.
Through the Act, the government will ensure that charge points are compatible with all EVs while standardizing payment systems for using the charging points.
Moreover, the law will update insurance rules, ensuring that drivers are covered when self-driving modes are activated.
The U.K. is becoming a world leader in the roll-out of low-emission transport,鈥� Minister for Business and Industry, Jesse Norman, said.
He also added that this Act will ensure the U.K.'s infrastructure and insurance system is ready for 鈥渢he biggest transport revolution鈥� in a century.
There are already more than 150,000 ultra-low emission vehicles on British roads, according to the government's statement, which confirmed the government had already committed to investing 拢1.5 billion (nearly $2 billion) in ultra-low emission vehicles by 2020.
On July 9, the government released its Road to Zero Strategy, confirming its ambition to have at least 50 percent and as much as 70 percent of new car sales as ultra-low emission by 2030, in addition to up to 40 percent of new vans.
By Firdevs Yuksel
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr