The UK automotive industry has called for binding targets for public chargepoints as part of a new, seven point plan for the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.
As the uptake of EVs continues to surge, government, industry and all other stakeholders must work together to ensure no areas of the UK are left behind, SMMT said unveiling the plan.
There has been an increase in public chargers, with the number of standard public chargepoints growing by 3,000% since 2011, putting it at one charger for every 32 battery EV drivers currently. The UK therefore has the best ratio in the western world according to SMMT, behind only China (1:11), South Korea (1:12) and Japan (1:17).
“The automotive industry is up for the challenge of a zero-emission new car and van market by 2035,” said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive.
“Delivering this ambition – an ambition that would put the UK ahead of every major market in the world – needs more than automotive investment. It needs the commensurate commitment of all other stakeholders, especially the charging industry as surveys show that range anxiety has been replaced by charging anxiety.”
The number of public EV chargepoints is now struggling to keep pace with the surge in the uptake of EVs, with EVs accounting for one in every six new cars on the road in 2021 for example.
Between 2019 and 2021, plug-in cars grew by 280.3%, while the number of chargepoints increased by just 69.8%. Similarly, the number of battery EVs increased by 586.8% during this period, whereas rapid and ultra-rapid charger stock grew by only 82.3% over the three year period.
This is leading to concerns around charger anxiety taking over from range anxiety, undermining consumer confidence and potentially harming the uptake of EVs.
Furthermore, this problem is more pronounced in the north, with a 1:37 public charger to EV ratio in the north of England, compared with 1:26 in the south as of the end of 2020. This ratio deteriorated significantly in 2021 too, with 1:52 public chargers to EV drivers in the north compared with 1:30 in the south.
To tackle these issues, SMMT has set out seven steps, including embedding consumer-centricity in both policy and national planning for charging infrastructure, developing and implementing a nationally coordinated – but locally delivered – infrastructure plan and investing significantly in all types of required charging infrastructure, but in particular public chargers.
Additionally, binding targets should be set to ensure adequate public chargepoint provision and social equity, proportionate regulation should be enacted to deliver the best outcomes for consumer experience and expansion, adequate support to incentivise charging infrastructure should be provided and energy networks must be future-proofed.
“Our plan puts the consumer at the heart of this transition, assuring them of the best possible experience backed by an independent regulator,” added Hawes.
“With clear, equivalent targets and support for operators and local authorities that match consumer needs, government can ensure the UK has a chargepoint network that makes electric mobility a reality for all, cutting emissions, driving growth and supporting consumers across the UK.”
Beyond this plan, SMMT is also calling for the creation of a new regulatory body, Ofcharge (the Office of Charging).This would help to keep the consumer at the heart of the EV rollout, by monitoring charging prices and affordability, and enforcing regulated minimum standards.
Should the steps in the plan be brought in and a collaborative approach taken by industry, government and key sectors, including fleets, infrastructure and energy, environmental and socio-economic benefits will be unlocked from the transition to EVs, said SMMT.
The company is forecasting the EV market to grow rapidly in coming years, hitting 9.3 million plug-in cars by 2030 (27.0%) and 18.4 million by 2035 (54.8%). Of these, 6.9 million (20.1%) and 15.3 million (45.6%) respectively are expected to be zero-emission.
