The electric car revolution is experiencing setbacks due to a lack of charging points, leading to calls for a reevaluation of the planned ban on petrol and diesel cars by 2030. A significant percentage of UK households, approximately 40%, lack driveways or off-street parking, with urban areas seeing an even higher figure of 60%. This means that many individuals will have to rely on public on-street chargers, as well as service stations and shopping center car parks.
However, a report has revealed that there are only 17,047 on-street chargers in the UK, with a majority of them (75%) concentrated in London. Additionally, nearly 70% of local authorities in the UK have yet to install any on-street charging points, indicating a lack of progress in the government’s efforts to promote the electric car revolution.
These figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request by Vauxhall, raise concerns about the country’s infrastructure meeting the government’s deadline. Industry experts emphasize that “range anxiety” and the high cost of electric vehicles are deterring motorists, especially those who cannot charge their cars at home. The Daily Mail has initiated a campaign urging ministers to reconsider the 2030 ban, as recent polling reveals that only 25% of individuals agree with the deadline.
Conservative MPs Sir John Redwood and Craig Mackinlay have criticized the absence of reliable charging points, the limited range of electric vehicles, and the time it takes to charge them, which exacerbates the issue. Mackinlay also highlights the lack of enthusiasm among local authorities in installing charging points, emphasizing the premature nature of the 2030 ban compared to competitors in the US and EU.
Vauxhall’s report indicates a significant disparity in on-street charging points, with London having 12,708 chargers compared to the rest of the UK’s 4,339. Moreover, the capital has plans to install an additional 6,397 on-street charging points within the next year, while the rest of the country is only targeting 3,580. Furthermore, the report reveals that 69% of councils and local authorities have yet to install any on-street charging points, and a similar number has not published any strategies to do so, jeopardizing the government’s goal of having 300,000 public charging points by 2030.
James Taylor, the managing director of Vauxhall, stresses the importance of accessibility to charging points near homes for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the UK. To meet the 300,000 target, over 100 public chargers need to be installed per day, but the current rate is just around 40 per day based on the installation numbers from April, May, and June.
Campaigners like Quentin Willson, the founder of FairCharge, are calling for thousands of local charging hubs to encourage EV uptake among households without driveways. Critics argue that the rushed policy and ban on petrol and diesel cars could lead to job losses and financial hardships for households.
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