The number of electric vehicle charging points will reach 300,000 by 2030 under UK government plans.

Under the plans, operators will have to ensure drivers can compare prices and pay by contactless card.

But the RAC said the charge Point target “might sound impressive”, but it is concerned the number is “not going to be sufficient” for growing demand.

The UK currently has 30,000 public electric vehicle charging points.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the number of charge points by the end of the decade would be the equivalent to almost five times the number of fuel pumps on UK roads today.

It said the £500m scheme would include £450m to boost public charging stations and on-street charging for people without driveways.

The funds were previously announced as part of the government’s £1.6bn Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy, but the government has now given details about how the money will be spent.

New standards and legislation will mean operators will have to provide real-time data for customers to check the status of charge points and apps for customers to find the nearest available one.

They will also be required to have a 99% reliability rate at rapid charge points.

However, Sir John Armitt, chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission, which advises the UK government on major infrastructure, said in a report there was a gap emerging between the government’s aspirations on net-zero policy and actions taken to reach it.

“We need to turbo-charge the roll-out of electric vehicle charging points, accelerating the installation of both rapid and on-street charging facilities so that the 2030 date for the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars remains viable”, he said.

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