Experts have revealed the “biggest gap” in the UK’s electric car charging infrastructure, with one set of road users set to miss out on major savings. Melanie Lane, chief executive officer at EV charging company Pod, has warned that infrastructure for motorists without access to off-street charging was still a concern.
Cost Gap Between Home and Public Charging
Charging at home is much cheaper than using public charging bays, but not everyone has access to a home charger. Road users topping up on their driveway pay around 7p per kWh compared to up to 50p per kWh elsewhere. VAT on domestic electricity will drop to 0% from October, while public charging plugs will charge up to 20%.
Motorists in cities may be among those most affected, with previous research suggesting that as many as 32% of UK households don’t have any off-street parking.
Expert Warning on Infrastructure
Speaking exclusively to the Express, Melanie said: “The UK is deploying chargers at a steady rate in line with the growing adoption of EVs, so the challenge isn’t simply about having more of them, it’s making sure drivers have a consistent and joined-up charging experience wherever they live, work and travel. One of the biggest gaps is still for drivers without off-street parking.”
EV charging firms are now working closely with developers to get a grip on the situation, with new tools being developed to fix the issue. Charging cables running in gullies underneath the pavement are popping up across the country, with the tech allowing road users to top up their batteries at domestic rates even if they don’t have a driveway.
Solutions Being Deployed
The Department for Transport has previously said that gullies are the most common EV solution at present, with trials taking place in multiple local authorities using different suppliers. Surrey County Council is one area that has embraced the idea, joining forces with developer Kerbo Charge to bring the technology to the area.
Melanie told the Express: “Pod has partnered with Kerbo Charge, helping households without a driveway access cheaper home charging through a cable channel across the pavement, towards their on-street parking bay. Alongside continued investment in public and workplace charging, solutions like this can help make EV ownership simpler and more accessible for many more people.”
