Huge change could save car owners who don't have a driveway £1,500 a year

More people without driveways will be able to fill up their electric cars at home, after ministers announced a £63m funding package to make it easier and cheaper to go green.

Ministers hope the cash injection will break down barriers to electric vehicle ownership and boost charging infrastructure across the UK, cutting costs for families, businesses and the public sector.

A £25 million scheme for local councils will let more drivers charge their car at home by safely running cables under the pavement to the kerbside.

Charging an electric car at home can be up to £1,500 a year cheaper than running a petrol or diesel car, with running costs as low as 2p per mile.

“We are making it easier and cheaper to own an electric vehicle,” Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said.

“We know access to charging is a barrier for people thinking of making the switch, and we are tackling that head-on so that everyone - whether or not they have a driveway - can access the benefits of going electric.

“Our investment is about more than just charging points – it's about charging up Britain's economy. I’m proud that through this boost, we are helping deliver cheaper bills for families, massive savings for the NHS to reinvest in patient care, and thousands of new green jobs.”

£8m FOR NHS ELECTRIC VEHICLES

THE NHS will get £8m in funding to pay for electric Ambulances - and more than 1,200 charge points to plug them in.

Some 211 NHS sites across 62 trusts across England will benefit from the cash.

Ministers say the changes will save £120 million in fuel and maintenance costs over the next 20 years, which will can be used to pay for patient care and rebuilding the NHS.

READ MORE: Join our Mirror politics WhatsApp group to get the latest updates from Westminster

ROAD SIGNS FOR CHARGE POINTS

NEW road sign rules will allow electric vehicle charging hubs to be signposted from major roads for the first time.

Under previous rules charging points couldn’t be signposted from motorways or A roads.

The number of EV charging hubs has more than doubled since the start of 2023.

Edmund King, the President of the AA, said: "There are more public chargers than people realise, but they are often hidden in plain sight. Increasing signs for the public network is vital to help the EV transition as it will create confidence for drivers both now and in the future. “