"#DOKEEPUP," were Ecotricity founder Dale Vince's choice words following yesterday's Queen's Speech.

The Queen's Speech is an opportunity for the current government to outline their flagship goals.

Usually the aims stretch for one year, but this time around Theresa May's minority government - which may be assisted by Northern Ireland's DUP in a 'Supply and Confidence' deal - will carry for two years.

Dale took issue with one particular pledge which referred to electric vehicle charging points.

"Theresa May's Queen's Speech was always going to be bit light on policy, given her lack of majority in the House - but promising to do something that’s already been done, by somebody else, several years ago - bit bizarre really…" he said.

"'Motorway services will be required to install electric charge points, under plans outlined in the Queen's Speech'.

"There aren’t actually any Motorway services that don’t already have charging facilities for EVs [Electric Vehicles].

"#DoKeepUp."

An Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill will be introduced to encourage the use of electric and self-driving cars, the government announced in the Queen's Speech.

The first all-electric car to be built in the UK rolled off of the production line in 2013, and the government wants "almost every car and van to be zero-emission by 2050".

Plans to fund the additional electric charging points have not yet been announced, although the government said it was committed to spending £600m during this Parliament to support the ultra-low emissions market.

There is also mention of ‘large fuel retailers’, with charge points on petrol forecourts likely to become a far more common sight in the near future.

Ecotricity currently has electric car charging ports in 179 locations around the UK with the first launch at South Mimms services on the M25 in 2011.

In total there are 4,518 electric car charging ports in the UK.

Visit www.zap-map.com/live for a location map.

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