RAC Foundation: National charge point network needed for electric vehicles

Potential purchases of electric vehicles with have limited widespread impact without a national charge point network, particularly on motorways and major A-Roads, according to a report by the RAC Foundation. Report author Harold Dermot outlines several challenges that need addressing.Currently, 80% of EV owners have access to home charging, but 93% use the public charging network.
October 4, 2017 Read time: 2 mins

Potential purchases of electric vehicles with have limited widespread impact without a national charge point network, particularly on motorways and major A-Roads, according to a report by the 4961 RAC Foundation.

Report author Harold Dermot outlines several challenges that need addressing.

Currently, 80% of EV owners have access to home charging, but 93% use the public charging network. In June 2017 around 13% of charge points were out of action at any one time and a lack of standardisation of connectors and charging protocols has resulted in an array of types of charge point, connectors and tariffs which is poorly presented to the public.  In addition, rapid charge points (50KW and above) are essential for battery electric vehicles on long journeys but are irrelevant for plug-in hybrid vehicles which can only recharge at 3.6KW.

The report highlights the Automated Electric Vehicle Bill as presenting an opportunity to address these issues by ensuring appropriate charge points on motorways and grants for providers that also use energy storage units. Charge point operators should cooperate on shared methods of payment and to introduce time limits for repairing faulty recharging equipment.

RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding, said: "We may be on the cusp of a motoring revolution, but step-changes in vehicle technology must be matched by equally big strides in our recharging infrastructure. The Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill offers the opportunity to make sure that happens."

However, Matt Dyer, 5814 LeasePlan UK’s managing director said: “It wasn’t too long ago that the Government stated its intentions to invest in the UK’s electric car infrastructure and we are still waiting to see the shape this investment will take and the full impact of it. For LeasePlan, we believe electric vehicles are what’s next and have already started working towards our ambition of all our employees driving electric cars by 2021 as well as encouraging our customers to make the switch.”

“Over half the cars on the road belong to companies and making the transition to an electric fleet is one of the easiest ways for businesses to lower their emissions and to help tackle climate change,” he added.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Four predictions for the automotive and transportation industry
    May 30, 2012
    Frost & Sullivan has released the results from its customer survey with several hundred companies conducted in December 2011, executed to find out the top predictions for 2012 for the global automotive and transportation market. Market growth in all regions except Europe, accelerated introduction of plug in hybrid and battery electric vehicles due to increasing fuel prices, mobility and integrated transportation as well as the integration of the smart phone with dedicated application stores and innovative H
    Read More
  • Asia Pacific expected to lead EV charging station market by 2022
    April 1, 2016
    According to Markets and Markets’ latest market research report, the electric vehicle (EV) charging station market is estimated to reach US$12.61 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 29.8 per cent between 2016 and 2022. Factors which are driving the electric vehicle charging stations market include government subsidies and incentives, increasing use of EVs, and the growing need to reduce carbon emissions. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) categorises battery electric vehicles (BEVs) as zero-emissi
    Read More
  • Emissions reductions targets to have major impact on transport
    October 28, 2015
    As bold moves aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions have been introduced in California, David Crawford looks at the ramifications for transportation. California Governor Jerry Brown’s recent dramatic raising of the bar on emissions reduction policy for the state has won him praise from Japan, Australia, Europe and the secretariat of the critical UN conference on climate change being held in Paris in November/December 2015. His April 2015 executive order aimed at bringing emissions to 40% below 1990 lev
    Read More
  • New national body to drive uptake of electric vehicles in Australia
    June 2, 2017
    A new industry-led national body that aims to drive the uptake of electric vehicles (EV) in Australia has been launched in Canberra. A total of 17 organisations, including non-profit organisation ClimateWorks Australia, Tesla, Audi, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, infrastructure firm JET charge and the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria have joined the Electric Vehicle Council.
    Read More

Highlighted Content