Tired of hunting for EV public charging points? A home EV charger could be the answer
If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “where can I charge my electric vehicle?”, chances are you’re among the many drivers who rely on the public network for charging, and will be all-too-familiar with the pains of trying to find a place to charge your EV.
And you’re not the only one wondering where to charge an EV. The latest data, compiled at the end of August, shows that there is still a considerable gap between the number of plug-in electric cars on UK roads versus the number of charging locations in the public network that are available for drivers to use.
Network fails to meet demand
How big is the gap? Well, at the end of August 2020 there were almost 340,000 EVs on the road, a statistic made up of 142,273 BEVs and 196,800 PHEVs. But, when you look at the number of charging locations, the substantial gap in the public network becomes apparent. The latest data indicates there are 12,291 EV charging locations in the UK.
Doing the maths on these numbers shows that for every charging location in the UK, there are 27 cars fighting to use it. The gap improves slightly when you factor in locations that have multiple charging stations at them. Taking that into account, we find that there are 18 electric vehicles for every public charging device in the UK.
Last year saw the biggest annual increase in the number of EV registrations on record (a growth of 22%, with 72,000 more electric vehicles on the road), so the growth in the public charging network isn’t just insufficient to date – it’s failing to keep up with new demand.
Where can I charge my electric car?
Thankfully, there is a solution to the problem. Many homeowners are now taking advantage of special government funding, awarded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), and using their grants to pay towards the cost of installing a home EV charging station.
If you have a driveway or private off-street parking, you may never have to ask yourself “where can I charge my EV” again – the answer will be: at home! Obviously, the first major benefit here will be convenience. No more scurrying around town looking for a charging station only to find them all in use, for a start.
You can also say goodbye to the long walks from your nearest public charger to your house. New research has shown that UK EV drivers live on average more than five minutes’ walk from their nearest charge point, something which the study’s authors and the UK government deem to be outside of what’s “reasonable”.
Not just that, but a home EV charger adds value to your home in much the same way that having a parking space does. With electric vehicle ownership going up, more homebuyers will be looking for houses with charging points, and sellers will be able to charge a premium for them.
_If you’re ready to switch to charging at home and would like more information on products and the OLEV grant, speak to us today for advice. _