Clwyd West MS Darren Millar is urging owners of Electrical Vehicles (EVs) to ensure they charge them safely after attending a Senedd event today which highlighted the dangers of not doing so.
While Wales continues its mainstreaming of EVs, a lack of public infrastructure and access to dedicated home charging points means some people will resort to risky charging methods.
Research by campaigning charity, Electrical Safety First, found 74% of EV drivers have admitted to charging their car in a manner which increases the risk of fire and electric shock.
Today Darren visited Electrical Safety First’s Senedd drop-in event, where the Charity offered a range of information on the subject.
Held in the Oriel of the Senedd building, the drop-in was part of Electrical Safety Week Wales, an annual event established by the Charity to raise awareness of electrical safety, which this year runs from 14th -20th March.
Darren said;
“Transport is a significant contributor to Wales’s greenhouse gas emissions, so EVs play a key part in our move to net zero and, understandably, charging an EV at home is the preferred choice.
“A dedicated, home-based EV charging point is more convenient and cheaper than a public one - and safer and quicker than using a domestic plug socket. However, installing a home charging point is not always a possibility, particularly for those in flats, or terraced streets with no off-street parking.
“Research conducted by Electrical Safety First revealed that almost three quarters of EV drivers have charged their car in a risky manner – from using multiple extension leads in the rain, to charging from a domestic plug socket – because of a lack of accessible charging points. This is obviously highly dangerous and it is important that we educate people to charge their vehicles in a safe manner.”
Wayne Mackay, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Electrical Safety First, said:
“Electrical Safety First wants to see a coordinated approach from the Welsh Government and Local Authorities, to expand the public EV charging network and help reduce risky charging practices. We believe support should be focused on areas where existing charge point deployment is particularly low. So a mapping exercise – to help ensure future projects are coordinated and no further geographical disparity is created – must also be considered.”
This week Denbighshire County Council announced that work is due to start on the installation of a county wide Electric Vehicle Public Charging Pilot.
Welcoming the news, Darren said:
“The pilot will provide fast charging points in eight public car parks across Denbighshire for use by the public and will help reduce the risks outlined at Electrical Safety First’s event today.”
Public chargers will be installed at:
- Fern Avenue, Prestatyn
- Factory Ward Car Park, Denbigh,
- Bowling Green Car Park/ Lower High Street, St Asaph
- Market St Car Park, Llangollen
- Pavilion Car Park, National Pavilion, Llangollen
- Cae Ddol Car Park, Crispin Yard, Clwyd Street, Ruthin
- Craft Centre Car Park, Park Road, Ruthin
- Morley Road Car Park, Rhyl
Work on the pilot is expected to be completed by early summer.
