- DRIVE calls for more detail on EV charging from property portals, estate agents and developers
- There are fewer than 12 chargepoints per Electric Vehicle in the UK
- UK Government due to report responses to EV consultations before the end of 2021
According to Bank of England data, UK mortgage approvals are 40% higher than a year ago (Bank of England, January 2021). The nature of activity within the UK housing market appears non-traditional. As Robert Gardner, Chief Economist at Nationwide Building Society, commented in February 2021:
“Many peoples’ housing needs have changed as a direct result of the pandemic, with many opting to move to less densely populated locations or property types, despite the sharp economic slowdown and the uncertain outlook.”
Despite the apparent diaspora, UK housing market participants are not providing information relating to the availability of EV charging points. Recent announcements from the larger housebuilders contain little or no commentary on this situation. Furthermore, DRIVE has reviewed the major housing portals’ and estate agents’ websites. Few if any show details of properties’ capability to charge EVs.
This lack of information is surprising, particularly so in light of the recent changes to EV sales contained in the Budget and the expected 2021 publication of the response to Government consultations on EV charging in the home and the consumer experience at public EV chargepoints.
Currently, there are 13,735 public locations providing 37,535 chargepoints. Over 80% of these are located in England, 12% in Scotland, 4% in Wales and less than 2% in Northern Ireland. According to Department of Transport data, there are approximately 450,000 EVs on the UK’s roads, over a quarter of which are Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs). On this basis, there is one public chargepoint for every 12 EVs in the UK but these points are not distributed equally.
DRIVE believes that information relating to EV chargepoints will become a common request from house hunters to those working in the market throughout the current year as people make long-term decisions about life after the Pandemic.
ODO provides its customers with a detailed analysis of charging point availability. Working with Masternaut and ZapMap, ODO helps managers and drivers prioritise their work over the need to manage their EV charging. From this work, DRIVE can assist users to navigate the UK’s charging network.
Rob Gorby, Chief Commercial Officer for DRIVE Software Solutions, said:
“The UK is at the forefront of the drive for EVs but banning the sale of fossil fuel-powered vehicles by 2030 will require a charging infrastructure to support this initiative before the ban becomes effective. For those managing large fleets of LCVs and company cars, the transition to EV requires long-term planning which, in turn, requires information. It is clear that, although the commitment to EVs appears strong, the development of the ecosystem to support it is less so.
“DRIVE has little doubt that the UK will expand its charging network, but it calls today for more disclosure from those responsible for building it so that those tasked with managing fleets can make informed decisions. DRIVE can help, providing much-needed intelligence for those who have made the move already and for those who are considering the transition. We are intent on mapping this expansion so that, with our partners, we can help our customers stay ahead of the curve.”
For more information, please visit – Transition to electric.
