Yesterday, BBC News published an article about the effect of the UK’s enforced lockdown on air pollution. This drop in NO2 has been directly linked with the reduction of polluting ICE (internal combustion engine) cars on the road, and levels in some cities are down 60% from this time last year. Many individuals and organisations are calling for a review of what ‘normal’ looks like when this is all over. Improving air quality is vital for public health, and protecting the natural environment. There are two main takeaways of how we can improve going forward. The first is the cause of such drastic changes in air quality over these past few weeks; driving less. The prevalence of home-working tools and digital conferencing has woken businesses up to the possibilities arising from cutting out lengthy commutes or unnecessary travel. While driving is absolutely necessary for some industries, much of what we’ve been doing in an office out of habit could be done at home. However, when driving is a necessity, zero emission vehicles can help negate the impact on local air pollution. Electric cars are quickly becoming a staple of the UK’s transport portfolio, as workplaces and fleet managers open their eyes to

As part of its commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint, Devon law firm Stephens Scown LLP has introduced electric vehicle (EV) charging points at its Exeter office. The firm now has three EV charging points at its office in Southernhay West, which were installed by EV charge point company Plug-N-Go. The charging points at Stephens Scown’s Exeter office can be used by visiting clients for free, as well as by employees at the firm. Sonya Bedford MBE, Partner and Head of Stephens Scown’s Energy team – who owns an electric car herself – worked closely with Plug-N-Go during the installation. She sees the new charging points as a step towards a more sustainable way of driving: “The government has set 2035 as the latest date that petrol and diesel vehicles will be banned in the UK, and before then the country needs to have more charging points in place for the switchover to electric vehicles. Stephens Scown is preparing for the future well ahead of time. “Our decision to install EV charging points at our Exeter office was motivated by a desire to help our employees and clients who have EVs or may be considering getting one soon.

Electric vehicle drivers everywhere face a common problem – finding public charging when they need to top up. According to Zap-Map’s latest survey, 94% of drivers rely on public infrastructure to charge their EVs, using services like Zap-Map or Plugshare to locate and use charging stations. Charge points are often designated with signage and clearly marked bays, at car parks for hotels, restaurants and other public facing businesses. However, when they’re not, it becomes a nightmare to find the units tucked into a dimly lit corner. That’s why Plug-N-Go, a charge point operator for the UK, Channel Island and Gibraltar, uses what3words to pinpoint exactly where their charging stations are in a user-friendly manner.   Drivers can download the Plug-N-Go app, and find a 3 word address on the map when searching for a charge point. They can use this to find exactly where they need to park to charge their EV, using the app to start and pay for their charge. Peter Brock is marketing & business development lead for Plug-N-Go: “As a charge point operator, we need to think about the driver’s experience using our charging stations above all else. We spend a lot of time refining the