However, consumer and commercial uptake of electric vehicles is slow — with only a 14.8% market share of newly registered vehicles in September — due to ongoing concerns surrounding access to charge points, amongst other challenges. Therefore, to get the population on board, action will have to be taken on a country-wide level to ensure there are plenty of facilities available for an electric future.
But can the roll-out of EV charging infrastructure keep pace with the legislative changes? As per the government’s “Taking Charge: The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy” released in March 2022, there’s a need for 300,000 public chargers by 2030. WIth only 52,309 currently available, this is an ambitious target, and one that can only be achieved through ensuring a wayleave is in place at the earliest opportunity.
Often overlooked by many organisations, these types of agreements are vital to the smooth and swift move to EV. In fact, installations can’t go ahead without them.
Such contracts can streamline the rollout of charge points in six key ways, by:
Reducing costs
In a telecommunications build, 20-30% of properties require wayleave consents, this is likely to be the same for EV charger wayleaves.
By utilising the services of an experienced legal specialist, such as Trenches Law, unexpected costs can be avoided, and the project can stay on budget.
Saving time
EV installation projects are intricate and time consuming, with many moving parts, an array of stakeholders to manage and appease, and potential planning issues to forecast.
Getting a legally binding agreement in place right from the start makes the process as seamless as possible, ensuring that the installation is completed on time, without any unexpected surprises along the way.
Navigating complexity
With a range of property types, from built up residential apartment blocks to rural car parks, and a myriad of use cases, including single point facilities at supermarkets to dedicated commercial fleet charging, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to deploying EV charging infrastructure.
Essential legal permission, negotiated by specialists experienced in this niche area of the law, ensures that builds can go ahead without a hitch.
Future-proofing installations
With technology advancing at an exponential rate, hardware may need to be updated and replaced regularly — meaning access may be required again in the future.
An agreement that’s comprehensive and fit for purpose should take this into consideration. At Trenches Law, we have the knowledge and practical understanding to make this happen.
Minimising environmental impact
Wayleaves are part of a more extensive process, but they act as a catalyst for achieving a more sustainable future by facilitating the installation of EV charging stations.
With the RAC stating that in 2018, an electric vehicle produces 66% less carbon emissions than a petrol car, and 60% less than a diesel, it’s vital that the infrastructure is in place to support the move away from fossil fuels.
Bolstering reputation
If you’re an EV charging point provider, it’s important to demonstrate a depth of resource and availability of places to plug-in to demonstrate to customers you can satisfy their demands. If you’re a stakeholder such as a property freeholder, installation of these points is a proven benefit.
Tackling the digital divide
As with telecoms infrastructure, it’s residents in multi-dwelling units that will be left behind if there are no charging points installed at these premises. For example, an installer for an operator would be unable to work the next day if their EV work van isn’t charged. These are the issues that multiple employers will need to consider in the imminent future when preparing for the switch to electrically powered transport, and a more sustainable future.
We can help to make that as easy as possible, and putting a comprehensive wayleave in place right from the very beginning can ensure the process is seamless.
With vast experience in the telecommunications industry, obtaining wayleave consents for the roll-out of full fibre networks, our experts are perfectly placed to guide and advise on the same process for EV charge point installations.
For more information, get in touch with us today.
