Electric vehicle (EV) charging network IONITY has registered an increase in the use of its charging stations following the first COVID-19 lockdown phase.
IONITY pointed to how the pandemic has changed mobility behaviour in Europe, helping the e-mobility sector to “gain further traction”.
It said this was due to a range of factors, including those who already own EVs increasing their usage, higher demand for sustainable mobility to travel emission-free, public transport no longer seeming “the safe way of travelling” because of COVID-19 and more countries offering EV incentives.
Whilst installation of EV chargers paused during the lockdown, sales of new EVs have consistently significantly out-performed 2019 sales since the beginning of the pandemic.
The use of IONITY’s charging stations increasing following the height of the lockdown support this, the company said, rising between April and June before spiking between June and August.
“Apparently, the pandemic has made people reflect on the way we all travel short and long distance”, Dr Michael Hajesch, CEO at IONITY, said
“Not only from a consumer point of view. For example, in several European countries the government just recently launched a series of measures to tackle the negative economic consequences of the pandemic, including a temporary increase in subsidies for electric and hybrid vehicles.”
IONITY itself has been working towards adding over 300 chargers to its European network by the end of 2020, having ordered the 350kW chargers from ABB in January of this year.
