LeasePlan & partners launch "ChargeUpNow" initiative

The new initiative comes ahead of Climate Week NYC and the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

ChargeUpNow’s five policy recommendations are:

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  Implement a network of publicly available fast charging stations to reduce the speed of charging from hours to minutes and reduce burden on urban charging spaces
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  Remove red tape and make it easier to obtain permits for private charging stations near residences and offices
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  Include charging infrastructure in all newly constructed residential and commercial buildings
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  Increase use of green energy by EVs through smart charging solutions that use zero-emission solar and wind power
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  Develop public-private partnerships between business and local governments to facilitate fast charging infrastructure in commercial zones
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  To kick off the Global ChargeUpNow Initiative, a petition has been created on Change.org, advocating for the implementation of all five ChargeUpNow policy recommendations. The petition is targeted at international and national governments and can be accessed at GlobalChargeUpNow.com

Tex Gunning, CEO of LeasePlan, said:

“Drivers are fed up with government inaction on EV charging infrastructure. This is a major roadblock holding back the mass adoption of EVs, which are crucial to fighting climate change and improving air quality in our towns and cities. That’s why we are launching our Global ChargeUpNow Initiative. Together, we want to give a clear and direct message to national and local policymakers about the urgent need for a universal, affordable and sustainable EV charging infrastructure. The solutions already exist – all that is missing is action from policymakers.”

Sandra Roling, Head of EV100, said:

“Easily available charging infrastructure is crucial for taking electro-mobility to scale. It is great to see our EV100 members not only making EVs a reality in their own operations, but engaging with their wider networks to drive change for everyone.”

Pieter Willems, founder of PowerD, said: “Facilitating EV charging contributes to much more than just reducing the number of petrol-powered cars on the road. Electric vehicles can accelerate the share of renewable electricity in the overall energy production by storing the excess electricity from wind and solar power at moments when energy demand is low, and avoid taking in energy during peak times when electricity is sourced from fossil power plants. EVs can even deliver energy back to homes during the evenings, reducing the overall need for fossil energy. Governments should gear up with creating charging infrastructure to unlock the bigger potential of smart electric mobility.”

Filippo Veglio, Managing Director for Outreach & Mobility, WBCSD, said: “A tailored and connected fast-charging infrastructure offers a clear path toward electric vehicle adoption at scale. To succeed in developing a seamless charging infrastructure that allows us to seize all the benefits of electric mobility, we need collaboration across sectors. The Global ChargeUpNow Initiative is a great opportunity for businesses to engage in a dialogue with policymakers, accelerate the clean energy transition and reduce emissions.”