EV Charging
Electric vehicle charge points: a long way from net zero
The mainstream adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has been speeding at full force. Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and pure EVs make up nearly half of the entire market share in the UK, sitting at 43% as of January 2023. By April 2023, there were more than 1.2 million PHEVs and EVs on the UK roads.
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atthew Gibbons, managing director of Plug&Drive, a UK manufacturer and installer of electric vehicle charge points, shares his thoughts on the future of the sector. As the popularity of EVs continues to surge, the network of public charge points to sustain the growing volume lags significantly behind the escalating demand.
The government announced an ambitious target of 300,000 publicly accessible charge points to be installed nationwide by 2030. However, as of January 1st 2023, a mere 37,055 charge points had been deployed, accounting for just 12.4% of the envisaged goal.
It is clear that immediate and substantial action is required to bridge this yawning gap in EV charging infrastructure. Time is of the essence, and collaborative efforts are vital to meet the challenges posed by the surging electric vehicle market.
An ever-growing demand The UK government continues to introduce measures to support the mass adoption of EVs, and as the number of EVs on the road grows, the number of required charge points grows parallel. Upcoming changes in Q3 2023 will see the Ultra Low Emissions Zone expanded to cover all of the London boroughs. This is likely to spike an increase in EVs as frequent London drivers look for ways to cut travel costs. On top of this, we are quickly approaching the petrol and diesel vehicle
“It is clear that immediate and substantial action is required to bridge the yawning gap in EV charging infrastructure.”
production ban in 2030, which is encouraging drivers across the country to make the switch when the time comes to replace their vehicles.
New legislation was put in place in June 2022, requiring all new commercial and residential developments, and any properties undergoing major renovations, to have EV charge points installed at the point of construction. There is further support for installing EV charge points, with the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) providing grants to cover up to 75% of the cost of installing an EV charge point for domestic and commercial properties.
These incentives are a big step in accommodating EV charging infrastructure but are unlikely to be enough to meet the target of 300,000 without collective work across the country.
20 | electrical wholesalerAugust 2023 Supporting the growth
Business owners should consider having EV charge points installed at their premises to support the rollout of widespread EV charging infrastructure. Customers, clients, employees and visitors can benefit from EV charging opportunities at the site, and owners can choose to bring in profit from the charge points, charging a fee for usage. Small to medium businesses can claim an OZEV grant to reduce the cost of installing EV charging infrastructure in their commercial car park.
Qualified electricians can expand their services to begin installing EV charge points. There is a wide range of charge point installation courses available, however, it is not a legal requirement to complete one. So long as the electrician is qualified and registered with a Government Approved Part P Scheme Provider, such as NICEIC, they are able to complete and sign off on installations.
Not only does branching into EV charge point installations increase job opportunities, but it will also help assist the development of charging infrastructure.
ewnews.co.uk
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