New data has revealed that businesses around the UK are set to benefit massively from new rules announced by Labour this week.
In a massive boost for electric vehicles, the Government announced that a new EV grant would be introduced to help motorists save up to £3,750 on a car that costs less than £37,000.
The £650million scheme came alongside an additional £63million investment for electric car charging infrastructure around the country.
As part of these measures, new signage will be seen on major A-roads and motorways to indicate to drivers where EV charging hubs are.
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|Labour recently announced plans for new EV charging signage along A-roads and motorways
These signs will show drivers where they can find their nearest charging hub when they're travelling along major routes, similar to existing filling stations signs.
These signs will have a major impact on commercial opportunities for retailers, according to new data from EV chargepoint operator, Instavolt.
Simon Smith, COO of InstaVolt, said: "We see better EV charging signage on our major roads not just as an infrastructure milestone, but also as a significant retail catalyst.
"With the right visibility and retail partnerships, public charging can deliver not just convenience for drivers, but meaningful footfall and revenue for site hosts.
READ MORE: Electric car grant hailed as a 'significant step forward' as drivers could save £3,750 on new EVs
"Retailers should see such an initiative as a strategic opportunity to engage with the fast-growing EV customer base. However, we can only make this happen with the support of Government."
The research found that EV drivers typically spend between 25 and 35 minutes on-site when charging, providing a "valuable window for retail engagement".
An overwhelming majority of people (89 per cent) said signs physically directing them to charging stations were vital, especially as it gives non-EV drivers the confidence to switch.
Almost three-quarters of electric car drivers say they are willing to pay more for fast, convenient charging at sites with good amenities.
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GETTY
|Drivers will soon see new signage indicating EV chargers across the road network
The signage decision from the Government follows years of campaigning and engagement with key stakeholders, including InstaVolt and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles.
The number of EV charging hubs has more than doubled since the start of 2023, with chargepoint operators praising the Government's work to accelerate the uptake of EVs.
Zapmap data shows there are 82,369 charging devices across the UK, at more than 40,000 locations, with InstaVolt operating the second-most rapid and ultra-rapid charging points in the UK.
Following the Tesla Supercharger network (2,121), InstaVolt operates 2,034 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers. BP Pulse, Osprey Charging and MFG EV Power round out the top five.
PA | There are more than 82,000 electric vehicle charging points across the country
Quentin Willson, founder of FairCharge, said: "Having long campaigned for charging signs on our roads, I'm overjoyed to see that finally non-EV drivers will see that there is a charging infrastructure to give them the confidence to switch.
"Years of not having any charging signage on our roads has helped stoke the myth 'there's no infrastructure'. This is a very welcome development."
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport told GB News that 2024 was a record year for EVs, with sales up by a fifth compared to the previous year.
They added: "We're continuing to back the sector by investing over £2.3billion to help the sector and consumers make a supported switch to EVs, creating high-paid jobs, tapping into a multi-billion pound industry and making the UK a clean energy superpower to deliver our Plan for Change."