As the UK prepares to ban the sales of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, concerns are emerging about the country's readiness for the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. Recent data analysed by MakeMyHouseGreen suggests that the UK government is falling drastically behind its infrastructure targets, potentially leaving thousands without easy access to EV chargers.
In January 2023, there were 37,055 public EV chargers according to figures from the Department for Transport. By July 2023, this number had increased to 44,020, indicating a trajectory of 13,930 new installations for the entire year. However, to meet the government's ambitious target of 300,000 chargers by 2030, an additional 255,980 chargers must be installed over the next 6.5 years. This requires an annual installation rate of 39,382 chargers.
Analysing the government’s data, MakeMyHouseGreen reveals the severity of the shortfall: the UK needs to bolster its installation rate by an astounding 182.71%. At the current trajectory, the target would be achieved in 2042, 18.38 years from 2024, 12 years after the intended target.
Llewellyn Kinch, CEO of MakeMyHouseGreen, commented on the issue, "The numbers don't lie. The current pace is alarmingly inadequate. For the UK to transition smoothly to an electric future, a robust and accessible charging infrastructure is paramount. At this rate, we're set to hit our targets over a decade late, which is a significant concern for both consumers and the industry."