EV charging deployment needs to match consumer demand
The electrification of the transport sector reached some significant milestones recently:
- As of August 2022, there are more than half a million pure battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) on UK roads (DVLA data)
- September 2022 saw the registration of the one-millionth plug-in vehicle (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) data)
- EVs now account for around 1 in 7 new cars registered, when just four years ago in 2018 this figure was 1 in 100 (Climate Change Committee (CCC) Progress Snapshot)
However, the CCC has warned that progress in the adoption of EVs is not being matched by the deployment of charging infrastructure.
How many EV charge points are there in the UK?
According to Zap-Map, there are 34,000 public charging devices in the UK across 21,000 locations – representing a 35% increase year-on-year.
To meet current and future demand, think tank, Policy Exchange, estimate that we will need to install EV charge points five times faster in the 2020s than the previous decade, with 35,000 installations every year, compared to an average of 7,000 from 2017 to 2020.
Where do we need EV charge points?
We need EV charge points at a wide variety of destinations and locations to ensure charging networks are resilient to external conditions.
The energy crisis has created an electricity pricing rate disparity between those who can charge at home and those who rely on public charging, which threatens to slow the process of EV adoption. Home chargers benefit from the Energy Price Guarantee, which protects the average price of one unit of electricity to 34p until April 2023. However, there are no such protections in place for public charging and costs have increased by 42% since May 2022.
Scaling up accessible and affordable on-street charging would have a huge impact on EV adoption. Innovative solutions include creating new inner city rapid charging hubs on disused land that is not suitable for any other purpose, supporting urban community charging.
If your site needs power, we can help
UCP Choice is an expert in the construction of 11/0.4 kV substations required to feed new EV charging hubs. We are an independent connection provider (ICP) and can manage your project from start to finish, including new connections, civil engineering, electrical design and cable laying.
Business benefits of becoming an EV charging destination
EV charging ‘destinations’ are another key piece in the charging infrastructure jigsaw. Charging facilities are required at commercial business and industrial locations, including:
- Forecourts
- Workplaces
- Leisure and hospitality venues
- Public and private car parks adjacent to urban retail hubs
Business benefits include greater footfall, more repeat custom, improved sustainability credentials and supporting employees and customers to transition to EVs. Developments in rapid charging and hardware designed to manage electricity usage is key to making this transition easier for businesses.
Got an EV charging project in the pipeline?
We pride ourselves on providing a seamless installation journey from initial concept to completion, combining the latest EV charging technologies with expertise in civil engineering to deliver complex projects on time and in budget.
Get in touch with us today to discuss your requirements.