This comes after sales of alternatively fuelled vehicle sales tipped into negative growth for the first time since April 2017 according to latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders.

Despite battery electric vehicle sales continuing to grow, the sector saw an overall 11.8% decline in new registrations in June due mainly to falling plug in hybrid electric vehicle take up.

Government’s new investment will be spread across 12 projects looking at innovations including wireless, high speed and solar charging, as well as ‘pop up’ chargers and providing better information about charging progress.

“We’re charging up the transport revolution and investing in technologies to transform the experience for electric vehicle drivers,” said the Department for Transport’s new future of mobility minister Michael Ellis.

“Ensuring the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles is reliable and innovative is encouraging more people to join the record numbers of ultra low emission vehicle users already on UK roads.”

Last week, the UK’s largest automotive company Jaguar Land Rover also announced plans to manufacture a range of new electric vehicles at its Castle Bromwich plant in the West Midlands.

The manufacturer also called on the Government and industry to work together to bring ‘giga-scale’ electric battery production to the UK. “Convenience and affordability are the two key enablers to drive the uptake of electric vehicles to the levels that we all need,” said the firm’s chief executive Ralf Speth.

“Charging should be as easy as refuelling a conventional vehicle. Affordability will only be achieved if we make batteries here in the UK, close to vehicle production, to avoid the cost and safety risk of importing from abroad.”

The National Infrastructure Commission welcomed the company’s announcement as well as growth in battery electric vehicle sales, but warned that further investment in charging infrastructure is needed.

“We must support drivers to make the switch and address concerns about range anxiety,” said NIC chair Sir John Armitt. “The Government now needs an action plan to effectively charge up Britain and it should start by rolling out a national charging network and subsidising rapid charge points in rural and remote areas where the market will not deliver straight away.”

(Photograph: Ian Stewart – Shutterstock)