Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has published its Electric Vehicle (EV) Strategy, setting out the principles it will apply to support the decarbonisation of transport. SSEN is calling on its customers and stakeholders to provide feedback to ensure their priorities and requirements are at the heart of this critical transition.

EV uptake is growing across the UK, with the number of ultra-low emission vehicles increasing year on year. SSEN has committed to invest in its network infrastructure to support 10 million EVs on GB roads by 2030. With the right actions taken now, SSEN believes the UK could have the most extensive EV charging network in the world by 2025.

SSEN has a central role in the transition to decarbonised transport, by providing secure, resilient infrastructure that supports the increasing demand, sharing the data and key learnings from innovation projects, to ensure drivers have the confidence to make the transition to EVs.

The EV Strategy sets five key principles to facilitate EV uptake and ensure SSEN is 'EV ready':

1. Using data and analytics to anticipate issues, support decision making and make sure SSEN's networks are ready for EV uptake;

2. Making a suite of tools available to support widespread EV uptake;

3. Using Local Development Plans to inform and establish strategic investment programmes

4. Using innovation, digitalisation, new skill sets and operational capabilities to meet the forecast growth

5. Supporting stakeholder and customer ambitions to decarbonise

The Strategy commits to actions that will allow SSEN to deliver on these principles. These actions were informed by engagement with stakeholders which informs SSEN's 'you said, we did' approach and will be fundamental in giving stakeholders the experience they expect both now and in the future.

SSEN is leading by example. As part of SSE Group, SSEN joined The Climate Group's EV100 initiative which embeds a commitment to decarbonise its fleet of 3,500 vehicles by 2030, alongside installing charge points for staff to use at SSEN sites. Rollout of e-vans began in early 2020 to operational staff who now drive Nissan e-NV200 vans and by the start of 2020, 132 staff had a fully electric or hybrid EV.

Andrew Roper, Distribution System Operator Director at SSEN, said:

"The next decade will see widespread and permanent change in how we all travel and, as a network operator, SSEN has a huge role to play in making sure that change is a success. Our EV Strategy sets out our ambition to support our customers, stakeholders and our colleagues through this transition and the actions that will lay the foundations for a net zero transport future.

"One of our 2030 Sustainable Goals is to help develop an electricity network that can accommodate 10 million electric vehicles in Great Britain by 2030; an ambition that Ofgem has recently aligned with. We're confident that by delivering on this strategy we can do just that."

SSEN is seeking feedback on the strategy from its customers and stakeholders and is adapting its approach, as Andrew explains:

"We recognise we are publishing this strategy in a period of upheaval, as the coronavirus pandemic places unprecedented restrictions on how we interact and communicate. We will therefore be offering increased digital communications and social media options for our customers and stakeholders to engage with us on this important topic."

Read the full EV Strategy here.