Minister meets with industry for destination charging discussion

Transport minister Lilian Greenwood joined industry professionals for a roundtable to mark the launch of a campaign on destination charging.

The Bon VoyCharge campaign aims to showcase best practice across the UK and where the industry and policymakers can collaborate on further development.

It has been organised by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), Auto Trader, Charge UK, EVA England, UK Hospitality, UK Inbound and Zapmap, and is supported by rental companies Arnold Clark, Drivalia, Europcar, and Hertz.

The roundtable discussion, which took place at Alton Towers on Thursday (July 17), marking two years since the site installed its charging bays for electric vehicles (EVs).

Greenwood was joined by organisations from the EV, tourism and hospitality industries to look at what good practice looks like and how to expand chargepoint availability at key tourist destinations.

Toby Poston, BVRLA chief executive, said: “Tourism is big business. Our rental sector plays a vital role in keeping visitors mobile, enabling them to visit new areas and explore the best the UK has to offer.

“As the sector evolves in a sustainable way, it is encouraging to see businesses in this space embracing the shift to electric vehicles. Through cross-sector collaboration, we can make domestic tourist travel greener, cleaner and more enjoyable.” 

Future of roads minister, Greenwood, added: “This week we made it cheaper and easier to own an electric vehicle — cutting up to £3,750 off the cost of a new EV and helping more drivers save up to £1,500 a year on running costs by making it easier to charge at home. 

“We want to make sure everyone reaps the benefits of owning an EV, which is why I met with the industry to help turbocharge the rollout of chargepoints at holiday hotspots and give people the confidence to drive and rent an EV no matter where they go.”

Activity through the summer will encompass political engagements and direct guidance for businesses and travellers.

A selection of guides will be published that support accommodation and leisure locations in installing or upscaling their EV charging provisions, alongside driver guides that give tourists the information they need to rent an EV with confidence during their trip. 

Ministerial and MP interactions will include site visits and round tables, in addition to wider briefings and local outreach with the support of industry stakeholders and fleet professionals.

As part of the BVRLA’s Parliamentary reception on World EV Day (September 9) and presence across political party conferences, the BVRLA will outline areas for further improvement and how to scale destination charging progress in line with EV adoption increasing.