How Improving Charging Infrastructure Is the Key to Widespread EV Adoption
The recent passage of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate into law is just the latest in several events that have spurred electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the UK. The ZEV law is set to gradually widen the UK’s commitment to put more EVs on its roads, aiming to completely phase out new traditional petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035.
What’s remarkable is that such a shift is now completely doable. The UK has trailed most of its European peers in EV adoption for the past few years, but the passage of the ZEV law may very well put it on par with many of the world’s top EV nations. However, the key to achieving universal EV adoption also lies in addressing a longstanding critical bottleneck: charging infrastructure.
The charging ecosystem in the UK has seen many improvements in the past decade thanks to government initiatives for EV charging point installation such as the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) and the EV Chargepoint Grant. However, a lack of general knowledge still serves to slow down the installation of private EV chargers throughout Britain.
Let’s briefly look at what an EV charger does differently from a typical house outlet and why an improved network of chargerpoints will further incentivise EV sales in the UK:
How are EV Chargers Different from Normal Electric Outlets
Without getting too bogged down in the details, a purpose-built EV chargepoint will significantly speed up EV battery charging times compared to a typical home outlet. EV chargers can also protect an EV’s battery and incorporate smart features such as charging during off-peak hours when electricity rates are at their lowest. In practical terms, modern EV chargers solve most of the range and driver convenience issues that were once associated with EVs.
Why Private EV Chargers will Boost EV Sales
1. No More “Range Anxiety”
The speed and convenience offered by private onsite EV charging can make range anxiety a thing of the past, particularly in rural communities where public chargepoints are still relatively rare. Though there is a concerted effort to make public charging stations more commonplace and accessible throughout the UK, having your own charger at your home or workplace remains a more convenient option.
2. No Queuing at Public Chargepoints
Outside of some key areas, the increase in public charging stations has not kept pace with the exploding popularity of EVs. Public chargepoints, particularly free ones, tend to have long, inconvenient queues, sometimes reducing the practicality of EVs as daily transport. Investing in home or workplace EV charger installation guarantees that your EV will be ready to drive and have enough power to go wherever you need to be.
3. Adds Value to Your Property
EV home charging point installation helps increase property values, often by significantly more than the installation cost. As the UK continues to expand its carbon emissions commitments each year, the value added by installing a chargepoint is only likely to increase further.
4. Reduces Transportation Costs
Charging at off-peak hours on the main grid makes EVs more affordable to run than petrol vehicles. If you’ve installed solar panels on your property, the costs can drop even lower. This cost efficiency has been a major reason why many businesses are switching over to EVs for their fleets. With benefits like the aforementioned WCS and the EV Chargepoint Grant, the barrier to affordable EV transportation has never been lower.
5. Enhanced Convenience for Urban Dwellers
While there are rural areas in the UK that still lack chargepoints, the main problem in urbanised areas is the lack of parking spaces. Even though EV chargepoints are now somewhat common in places like London, the lack of space means there is sometimes a practical limit to how many EVs can use a given public facility. Installing a private chargepoint at your home or your workplace completely solves this issue and makes EV ownership more practical for urbanites.
6. Primes the Economy for Wider EV Adoption
While this isn’t necessarily a key motive for EV owners, private chargepoints have the potential to benefit the UK economy in ways that further boost wider EV adoption.
With a wider chargepoint network, the UK can better meet its commitments to scaling back fossil fuel usage, reducing the costs associated with carbon credits and benefitting the wider economy. These gains can then be parlayed into more EV and chargepoint incentives that further drive up EV sales. More EVs in the streets will also incentivise businesses to add more public access charging stations, benefitting the EV ecosystem as a whole.
Beyond Petrol Pumps: Grasping the Shift to EVs in the UK
As the UK moves towards an EV future, the public needs to become fully aware of how EV charging points work and how the growing ubiquity of electric vehicles will affect day-to-day life, both on and off the streets. Though it’s still difficult to say what an EV-centred world will look like, we can be certain that the convenience and cost-savings that will be made possible with a wider chargepoint network will be leagues ahead of what is possible with today’s centralised petrol stations.