By John Roberts, Head of Automotive and Roadside at Colliers – Joint roadside agent for Integra 61, Durham with Avison Young

With current legislation seeing fossil fuel vehicles being phased out over the next decade, why isn’t the UK government more charged up about bolstering incentives for Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption and consumer buy in on the road to transition to a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) future?

Many developments are holding up their part of the bargain by gearing up for increased EV use for occupiers such as at the Durham employment-led mixed-use scheme, Integra 61, which recently installed 19 Tesla UK Superchargers, but the road to ZEV future is at a critical juncture.

Currently there are only 1.3 million EV cars on the road (4% of the 34 million cars in the UK), and with many consumers expressing concerns about range, lack of infrastructure and higher upfront costs vs traditional petrol cars, there are barriers to overcome.

The need for more robust Government incentives has never been more pressing to speed up EV adoption.  This stagnation, which is also hindered by government targets, economic pressures and consumer scepticism, can also cascade to affect infrastructure preparedness, sustainability goals, urban planning and the broader economy.

Integra 61 is leading the way with the installation of its new Tesla Superchargers, which represent the best EV charging from a global leader and will serve the largest employment-led mixed use scheme in the North East which includes more than 1,000 Amazon employees.  The Superchargers sit alongside the already hugely successful roadside element of the scheme and complement the existing offering of Costa Coffee, Greggs and KFC drive-thru units ensuring they are well used by those on-site and visiting the scheme, which is located at J61 of the A1(M).

Dealers play a pivotal role in EV adoption, so should be supported alongside manufacturers.  The UK Government’s policy on phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles must also be accompanied by practical measures to stimulate EV adoption and the sale of more EV vehicles.

Infrastructure remains a significant barrier to widespread EV adoption with some regions lagging behind – currently there are only 73,334 charging points in the UK – so expanding the charging network is vital.  Incentives for real estate developers to integrate EV charging stations into new residential and commercial projects, such as Integra 61, could help bridge the gap.

The transition to EVs is not just about environmental targets, it is about economic opportunity and creating a sustainable transportation eco-system.  The UK Government must introduce meaningful financial incentives; expand charging infrastructure, support dealers and manufacturers, educate the public and commit to policy clarity.  Without these measures, the UK risks staying in the slow lane in the global EV race, undermining its sustainability ambitions and economic resilience.