According to a report released this week, the demand for electrified vehicles isn’t being met by the rapid growth in the public charging network.
Analyse by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reveals that the infrastructure of the country is not keeping up with EVs, a decade prior to the ban on new petrol and diesel cars.
Up to the end September, a total 4,109 new public charge points were installed. That compares to 212 181 plug-in vehicle registrations.
That means only one device is installed for every 52 new electric vehicles on the roads, a rate that the SMMT calls ‘insufficient’ to improve the user experience of EV buyers.
The pace of EV registrations is faster than the charge point installation: Industry bosses demand a rapid expansion in infrastructure to allow EVs to be more accessible for drivers
According to the trade group, Britain’s public charging infrastructure had already fallen behind demand for EVs before this year.
According to historical data, 11 plug-in cars – full-electric or hybrid – had one common public charger at the end 2019
However, at the close of 2020 the ratio increased to one charger for each 16 plug-in cars in an industry boss called a drain of confidence’ in electric car adoption.
According to various reports, most current EV owners are wealthy households and individuals who have the means to afford high-end electric vehicles.
However, for a larger number of drivers to switch to electric vehicles, the SMMT needs better solutions for people who don’t have designated parking. This is a third of all homes in England.
One in six cars in the UK has been registered with plug-ins this year. The demand is predicted to increase as more manufacturers introduce more EVs.
In 2021, 4,109 standard public charging points were installed. This compares to the 212 181 new car registrations. This is just one of 52 electric vehicles.
A third of England’s homes don’t have designated off-street parking. Millions of motorists will soon rely on the public charging network for their electric vehicles.
The nation is already behind other countries that have implemented charging infrastructures for vehicles.
In fact, Britain’s ratio of plug-in vehicles on the road to standard public chargers has deteriorated to become one of the worst among the top 10 global electric vehicle markets at 16:1 in 2020.
South Korea, China (5:1) and the Netherlands (9:1) offer better coverage for their electric vehicle drivers. However, Germany is marginally ahead of the UK (17:1).
The current standard public charging point provision is also subject to significant regional differences.
London has the best ratio of cars to chargers at 10:1 – although this in itself fell from 5:1 in 2019.
The East of England is the most accessible, having just one public charging station for each 49 plug-in vehicle.
Wales is better than the average national weight with a ratio 12:1, while Scotland measures in at 17/1.
London has the best ratio of cars to chargers at 10:1 – although this in itself fell from 5:1 in 2019
There were 11 fully electric, or hybrid, plug-in vehicle options at the end 2019 – which could be shared with a public charger (Mini CountrymanPHEV pictured). This ratio was extended to 1 device for every 16 cars at the end 2020.
According to the trade organization, “If these inequalities aren’t addressed, it will hamstring vast portions of the country’s ability to deliver zero-emission motoring with all that air quality, carbon saving, and benefits this delivers, as well the benefits drivers can reap from lower EV running cost,”
Recent months have seen the government promise a variety of funding and legislative amendments to improve the network.
It has allocated a Rapid Charging Fund of £950million for the installation of the fastest charging devices, a further £620million for ‘targeted’ zero-emission vehicle grants and infrastructure announced in the Net Zero Strategy, and last week’s commitment that all new build homes will include an electric vehicle charging point.
Yet the SMMT says this is still insufficient to keep up with consumer demand for EVs and called on the government to take regulatory action to boost public charge point provision, with binding targets for delivery, commensurate with the targets for vehicle manufacturers to deliver products, to ensure installation rates accelerate.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: ”Those who can’t have their own home charge point need the confidence that they can still charge as conveniently as they can refuel.
“A declining ratio of public charges points to cars will sap that trust.”
“Recent government funding of infrastructure is welcome, but there’s more to be done by the private sector in public charge points across the country.
He stated that decarbonizing road transport was essential to combat climate change. However, it is necessary to create a framework which compels all industries to make the same investments as automotive in order to assist consumers with their efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
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