The Government has reportedly cut the £1bn Rapid Charging Fund for motorway charging infrastructure.

The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), that represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers in the UK, has called for urgent action following the news, with Sue Robinson, its chief executive, saying: "It is disappointing to see the failure of the Rapid Charging Fund, as a robust charging infrastructure is essential to support the growing number of EV drivers. Franchised dealers play a key role in guiding consumers through the EV buying journey, but without sufficient charging points, many drivers remain hesitant to make the switch.”

Introduced by Rishi Sunak when Chancellor, the fund was designed to invest in creating a network of EV charges across motorways and major routes the £950m Rapid Charging Fund has been reportedly been scrapped due to a lack of interest from motorway service operators. The fund, originally announced in 2021, aimed to install over 6,000 rapid and ultra-rapid charge points on England’s motorways by 2035 but was deemed commercially unviable by operators.

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