We are hiring! Are you an experienced technician? Join our outstanding team »
Demand Highlights the UK’s EV Infrastructure Gaps
Reading time 5 minutes
Categories Automotive Industry » Driving News »
Electric vehicles (EVs) are as popular as they’ve ever been, with more and more road users opting for a greener product when purchasing a new car.
In fact, ahead of the upcoming 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles, it’s predicted that EVs will account for an impressive 93% of all new vehicle sales by this deadline.
While this is undoubtedly great news for the environment due to the lack of greenhouse gases expelled by EVs, it has raised questions about whether the UK has enough charging infrastructure in place to cope with the demand.
With this in mind, The Windscreen Company will take a closer look at how the UK is getting on when it comes to preparing for EVs to become the norm on British roads.
In addition to road users becoming more concerned and conscious regarding the imminent threat of climate change, another factor surrounding the increased popularity of EVs is the government’s ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars that is coming into force in 2030.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the pledge back in 2020 as a way to help the UK meet its climate targets, including having net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
And this promise was reinforced in March 2023 by MP and Britain’s Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Grant Shapps. With the European Union allowing sales of combustion engine cars that use e-fuels until 2035, there was some suggestion that the UK would follow suit, but the government has since ruled this out.
Therefore, it’s even more important that the UK has the relevant charging infrastructure in place with less than 10 years to go until this significant switch.
As previously mentioned, 93% of total UK car sales are set to be EVs by 2030. As well as this, 72% of all cars on the roads are predicted to be electrically powered by the beginning of the next decade.
Considering this, it’s vital that the appropriate infrastructure is in place to cope with the demand. Primarily, this infrastructure will take the form of public and private charging points, giving people the ability to recharge their vehicle’s battery at home and when out and about.
However, according to a study by EY and Eurelectric, both infrastructure and supply chains need to be accelerated in order to meet the demand ahead of 2030. The report predicts that an additional 20 million EV chargers need to be manufactured in the UK by 2040 – 88% of which will be required for private homes.
If this target is not met, there are fears that there may be a situation where EVs are rolled out at a faster rate than the necessary infrastructure. This could mean that a large number of motorists could struggle to use their EVs effectively.
To counteract this, industry experts have recommended six key areas that the industry needs to focus on. These are:
Besides these factors, one area that the study specifically states that the UK needs to improve is original equipment manufacturers (OEM) — we need more of them. Currently, the country is lagging behind in this area and it’s one key facet that needs addressing in order to ensure there are no infrastructure gaps come 2030.
There are two main types of EV chargers, private and public. Let’s take a closer look at the challenges both pose.
The most common types of private EV charging points are domestic, household options. They allow people to charge their cars during the day or overnight at their own homes and at their convenience.
Typically, someone who has purchased an EV will need to make a one-off purchase to also have a charging point installed at their property. There is a government grant available to help with this, with the state offering a £350 or 75% discount on the cost of a charging point depending on which amount is lower. As of June 2022, it will be a legal requirement for every new build home to have EV charging points fitted to ensure homeowners will not need to make an extra purchase.
Many workplaces are also having private EV chargers installed for their employees, with the government also providing incentives to support such schemes. It is predicted that there will be more than 1.4 million workplace EV chargers in the UK by 2030.
Arguably the biggest challenge when it comes to infrastructure gaps is the lack of public EV chargers. A ‘chicken and egg’ problem is emerging as infrastructure will only be built if the demand is there, yet people may be reluctant to purchase if public charging points aren’t readily available.
Plus, different EV chargers are required for different EVs, meaning a mixture of infrastructure options are going to be necessary. With this in mind, the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has outlined public charging infrastructure as the biggest barrier to the upcoming changes.
At The Windscreen Company, we pride ourselves in supplying leading windscreen replacement and windscreen repair services to customers no matter what kind of vehicle they drive. This includes electric and hybrid car windscreen repair and replacements, helping you get back behind the wheel and ensuring you’re always safe when out on the roads. Working across the West Midlands and South East, we offer mobile windscreen replacement services that can visit a location of your choosing to carry out the work. To find out more about what we do, get in touch with our team today.
The Windscreen Company, has over 20 years of experience in windscreen repair and replacement. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of industry innovation, leveraging the latest technology to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.
The Windscreen Company's, help-and-advice pages offer valuable tips and guidance on maintaining vehicle safety through quality windscreen care, while also featuring updated industry realted content.
© The Windscreen Company 2024. All Rights Reserved.
The Windscreen Company is a registered company in England.
Registered Number: 3545701 VAT Number: 720 0628 78
By clicking "Accept All Cookies", you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, assist in our marketing efforts, and for personalised advertising.