'Devon needs a lot of infrastructure if we're moving to electric cars'

Across Devon there is currently almost 4,500 electric vehicles on the roads - with plans for 400 public charging points by next Christmas.

Jose Contreras, the Project Manager for Rapid Charging Devon says there's also chargers available in supermarkets, workplaces and in homes - but more will be needed as sales of EV cars continue to grow.

Last week 30 nations at the COP 26 summit in Glasgow agreed to make zero emission vehicles the norm by 2030.

Across the UK 15 per cent of all new cars sold in September 2021 were pure electric vehicles - the total was 22 per cent including hybrids.

Mr Contreras is also Head of UK and Group Finance at Gamma Solutions & Energy, which has a base in Exeter

He added: "If you take into account that an electric vehicle consumes as much electricity as a standard household then that's a lot of new electricity demand in a standard city - and that requires a lot of infrastructure.

"If we're going to phase out petrol and diesel the alternative requires a lot of infrastructure to serve that."

Mr Contreras has confirmed Devon will have a mix of on-road and on-pavement rapid chargers in future.

It's after cycling and walking campaigners raised concerns about the new 1.6 metre tall rapid public charging stations being placed on pavements in Exeter - which are being turned on in the coming weeks.

He said: "We paid a lot of attention to ensuring that they're not sitting in front of houses or shops or other key locations. We've made sure there's enough pavement for wheelchair users and buggies to come through.

Should chargers be installed on pavements?

"There will be a mix of both chargers on the pavement and on the road, it very much depends on the location and how best to utilise the space in those areas.

"We need to balance the need for parking spaces because obviously chargers on the road take out parking spaces - with the need for pedestrians to utilise those pavements - and there is a balancing act in trying to get the right mix."

From pavements, to roads and lamp posts - which areas have the right approach?

By the end of next year Devon's councils will have provided more than 400 public electric car chargers - including 74 on-street rapid ones - and are also bidding for more Government money to make it easier to cycle on an e-bike by extending the number of Co Bike charging stations.

Here's how Devon's gearing up for an electric car revolution

We can reveal that more rapid chargers public are planned by Devon's councils - possibly with a total of 100 on the cards - and even more units are expected to be installed across Devon after that.

Cycling groups have expressed concern they're being forgotten after claiming the pandemic proved people in Devon will cycle if they feel safe - suggesting better cycling infrastructure should be the priority for Devon's councils.

Globally electric bike sales are still higher than electric vehicles.

Is Devon replacing one type of car congestion with another?

In 2030 all new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans are being banned from sale, with new hybrids by 2035 if they cover a 'significant distance' in zero-emission mode.

Senior Reporter Andrew Kay has made a podcast about whether Devon is ready for an electric car revolution:

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