August 29, 2023
The development of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the UK has been progressing steadily in recent years. The government has set ambitious targets to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, leading to a significant increase in the demand for EV charging points across the country.
Status Quo: Currently, the UK has one of the largest and most advanced networks of EV charging infrastructure in Europe. There are over 24,000 EV charging points installed across the country, consisting of both publicly accessible and private chargers. These chargers are mainly located at public car parks, shopping centers, motorway service stations, and residential areas.
The charging infrastructure is supplied by various companies, including BP Chargemaster, Ecotricity, Pod Point, and Tesla Supercharger Network. Different types of charging points are available, ranging from slow chargers (3 kW) to fast chargers (7-22 kW) and rapid chargers (50 kW and above). Rapid chargers provide EVs with a quick top-up and are particularly important for long-distance journeys.
Development Trend: The UK government has introduced several initiatives to encourage the development of EV charging infrastructure. Most notably, the On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) provides funding for local authorities to install on-street chargers, making it easier for EV owners without off-street parking to charge their vehicles.
Another trend is the installation of high-powered ultra-fast chargers, capable of delivering power up to 350 kW, which can significantly reduce charging times. These ultra-fast chargers are essential for long-range EVs with larger battery capacities.
Furthermore, the government has mandated that all new-build homes and offices should have EV chargers installed as standard, encouraging the integration of charging infrastructure into everyday life.
To support the expansion of EV charging, the UK government has also introduced the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which provides grants to homeowners for the installation of domestic charging points.
Overall, the development of EV charging infrastructure in the UK is expected to continue at an accelerated pace. The growing demand for EVs, coupled with government support and investments, will likely result in more charging points, faster charging speeds, and increased accessibility for EV owners.
Post time: Aug-29-2023