Anthony Rockingham welcomes Government announcements and Durham County Council initiatives on charging infrastructure
The managing director of a larger car dealership in Durham has welcomed the £65m investment in electric charging infrastructure, promised by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, as part of a raft of new measures to kickstart the economy.
Durham County Council’s latest push to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging points has also been welcomed by Croxdale Group’s Managing Director, Anthony Rockingham, who says the investment will help to support the rising demand for EVs across the region.
The council has already installed 163 charging points across the county and is set to add a further 250 over the next three years in partnership with charging provider Zest.
However, with the Government’s Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) mandate placing increasing demands on manufacturers, by requiring 28% of new cars sold in 2025 to be electric, Anthony adds “even more needs to be done”.
Anthony said: “It is good to see some planned investment from the Government on the electric charging point infrastructure and great to see Durham County Council have been leading the way on this, as they are already making real progress in expanding EV infrastructure across the county.
“As demand for electric vehicles continues to grow, it is vital that the charging network keeps pace.
“More publicly available chargers will make it easier for drivers to make the switch to electric, particularly for those without off-street parking.”
While welcoming the council’s commitment, Anthony stressed that more Government funding is needed to accelerate the rollout of charging points nationwide.
Reports out today also suggest ministers have started talks with the car finance sector to make more low interest or interest-free options available on the purchase of electric vehicles.
“While Croxdale Group Durham and other Stellantis and MG dealers have benefited from the manufacturers’ successful electric vehicles marketing and sales across a variety of brands, the Government must do more to make purchasing EVs an attractive prospect for consumers,” said Anthony.
“That includes investment in the electric charging point network across the UK and better financing options.
“As a large dealership in Durham, we hope to see neighbouring authorities follow Durham County Council’s lead in securing Government funding for important investments in the network.
“With the Government demanding manufacturers ensure 28% of their new car sales are EVs this year, the infrastructure must be in place to support this transition, and we hope to see further investment to ensure charging is convenient and accessible for all drivers.”
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has also joined calls for a comprehensive and reliable charging infrastructure to support the growing number of EVs.
In its seven-point plan, SMMT called for binding targets to ensure adequate public chargepoint provision, emphasising that infrastructure development should keep pace with the increasing adoption of zero-emission vehicles.
Anthony added: “A robust and reliable charging network is essential to making electric vehicles an attractive option for consumers.”
County Councillor Mark Wilkes, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Neighbourhood Services said: “We have already installed 163 electric vehicle charging points across County Durham, having been successful in applying to previous government funding rounds.
“These facilities are located in council car parks, close to housing, and in areas where there is less off-street parking.
“We are now entering our next phase with new government funding and aim to install a further 250 electric vehicle charging points across the county in the next three years.”
He added the council has already started work on the first two installations, at Rookhope and Horden, in partnership with electric vehicle charging point provider Zest.
Rookhope, in Bishop Auckland, is approximately 25 miles from Croxdale Group and 29 miles from Durham City Centre.
Horden is just under 13 miles from the City Centre and 16 miles from Croxdale.
For decades, Croxdale Group has been at the forefront of the automotive industry, adapting to shifts in technology and consumer demand.
Established as a Citroën dealer in 1967, the family-owned business has expanded its offering to include a wide range of brands from Stellantis, such as Citroën, Peugeot, Vauxhall, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Jeep, alongside the ever-popular MG range.
It has also introduced the new, all electric Leapmotor vehicles in time for 2025.
For more information about Croxdale Group’s EV range and services, visit www.croxdalegroup.com.