Call for national co-ordination on EV charging infrastructure

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is urging the government to create a nationally coordinated and locally delivered infrastructure plan for electric vehicle (EV) charging, to be overseen by a new regulatory body, ‘Ofcharge’ (the Office of Charging). The industry group is warning that as EV sales have accelerated, the standard public charging infrastructure has struggled to keep pace, deterring some motorists from making the switch to electric. SMMT has published a seven-point plan designed to ensure the EV charging network is affordable, available and accessible to all. The plan, designed to drive collaboration between government, industry and all other stakeholders, calls for mandated targets for infrastructure rollout, backed by an independent regulator.

Although efforts by government, local authorities and the charging infrastructure sector have delivered a 3,000% increase in the number of standard public chargepoints since 2011, SMMT points out that plug-in cars on the road grew by 280.3% between 2019 and 2021, but standard chargepoints increased by just 69.8% in the same period.

Meanwhile, battery electric cars in the parc rose by 586.8%, whereas rapid/ ultra-rapid charger stock grew by only 82.3%. SMMT says this mismatch is undermining consumer confidence to make the switch, with range anxiety now replaced by charging anxiety.

Although most current plug-in car users charge at home, public chargers remain critical to consumer confidence and are also used by many commercial fleets, as well as the third of British households that do not have designated off-street parking.

Regional divide

Furthermore, drivers face a growing regional divide in chargepoint availability. At the end of 2020, the ratio of electric cars to standard public chargers was 1:37 in the north of England, compared with 1:26 in the south – and in 2021, the ratio deteriorated significantly in the North to 1:52, compared with 1:30 in the south.

SMMT argues a nationally coordinated and locally delivered infrastructure plan would give chargepoint operators and local authorities certainty to install the right number of the right chargers in the right places ahead of need, across every part of the UK.

This would be overseen by a new regulatory body, ‘Ofcharge’ (the Office of Charging). Ofcharge’s role would be to monitor the market, including charging price levels and affordability, and to enforce regulated minimum standards, in a bid to ensure there is a unified approach across the country, ahead of the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive (pictured), said: “The automotive industry is up for the challenge of a zero-emission new car and van market by 2035. 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.

“Our plan puts the consumer at the heart of this transition, assuring them of the best possible experience backed by an independent regulator. 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.”

If action is taken, SMMT forecasts the new plug-in car market will continue to grow rapidly, resulting in a UK car parc comprising 9.3 million plug-in cars by 2030 (27%) and 18.4 million by 2035 (54.8%), of which 6.9 million (20.1%) and 15.3 million (45.6%) respectively are zero- emission, thus ensuring road transport delivers its part in the UK becoming the first major nation to be net zero.

7 point charging plan smmt

Consumer pressure

Consumer publication Which? is backing calls for a upgrade to the UK’s EV calling charging infrastructure, after its research found only 15% of EV charging and 5% of PHEV charging is currently happening at public charge points. In a new report: ‘Building an Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure that is Fit for the Future’, Which? calls for a significant increase in the number of charging stations both on-street and at service stations – particularly in areas where they are scarce – as well as requiring charge points that are currently restricted to specific brands to be available to all EVs.

It says action is also needed to simplify a system that currently has around 60 different charging networks, many of which need a specific app or Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card

Sue Davies, Which? Head of Consumer Protection Policy, said: “Improving the UK’s flawed charging infrastructure will support more motorists to make the switch to a zero-emission vehicle. The current confusing and complex system needs to be quickly overhauled if the network is going to be ready for the ban on new fossil fuel cars in 2030.”

Industry response

Andrew Leech, founder and managing director of EV salary sacrifice and fleet management specialist Fleet Evolution, welcomed the SMMT plan, saying: “At a time when many companies right across the country are looking to go electric, they are being held back by a lack of investment in public chargepoints and especially in our largest northern cities. A major concern is kerbside and lamp post charging as this is a significant problem area for the 40% of us who can’t charge at home.”

A recent EV attitude survey that Fleet Evolution carried out in conjunction with Aston University found some 67% of those surveyed saying they did not live within five minutes of a public chargepoint.

Leech said: “Our survey showed that public charging was of such great concern to so many people. A co-ordinated national plan as proposed by the SMMT is sorely needed.”