EV NEWS
Which? survey identifies EV barriers A separate survey conducted by consumer champion Which? has highlighted concern about the availability and reliability of the UK’s EV charging network as a key barrier putting people off making the switch to EVs. The Which? survey, now in its third year of tracking consumer attitudes to sustainability, found the number of people who own EVs has increased from 3% in June 2022 to 6% in June 2024. However, the number of drivers who say they are unwilling to buy one has almost doubled from 20% to 39% over the same period. While some people remain open to buying them in the future, 64% of non-EV drivers said high prices would stop them from buying one. Pricing data based on models Which? has tested found the average new EV was £47,251.19, almost £10,000 more than a non-electric equivalent (£37,611.32) in October 2024. The research also revealed significant concerns about EV charging, with 54% of consumers apprehensive about the distance that can be covered in a single charge while 52% are worried about the availability of public charge points. The survey of 2,108 UK adults was conducted by Yonder on
ALMOST HALF OF EV OWNERS IN NORTHERN IRELAND SAID THEY WOULD BE PREPARED TO PAY £10-£20 MORE PER CHARGE TO REDUCE WAITING TIMES… EV owner survey highlights appetite for faster charging
Northern Ireland electric vehicle (EV) owners rank second in the UK among regions prepared to pay between £10- £20 more per charge to cut charging times. In a recent survey conducted by charge point manufacturer GARO, a straw poll of 500 EV owners across the UK were questioned about their attitudes to EV charging. In NI, 49% of owners said they would happily pay more per kWh to cut waiting times by up to 15 minutes, ranking second only to 55% in Cardiff. The lowest need for speed was found to be in the southwest of England, where only 17% would be happy to pay more. While expanding the network of EV stations nationwide can help reduce waiting times, operators can create additional efficiencies by installing ultra-fast equipment, said GARO. High- powered units enable quicker refuelling, allowing more drivers to access each bay throughout the day. UK progress with charge-point
installations was highlighted by GARO, with 60,000 plotted by Zapmap at the start of April 2024. However, only a very small percentage are ultra-rapid solutions, whilst the majority (35,339 chargers) are slow chargers with a power rating of 3kW up to 8kW. Conor Charnley, UK e-Mobility Manager at GARO, said, “The UK is making great headway in building the necessary electric vehicle infrastructure, but EV owners are clearly becoming frustrated with the lack of rapid charging solutions available and extended waiting times. “If we are to truly overcome range anxiety in the mass transition towards EV, we need to ensure that we are not just expanding infrastructure but doing so with solutions that enable rapid and convenient charging.” GARO’s research also found that 82% of EV owners would prefer to use renewable energy to power their vehicles, rising to 89% for 17-24-year-olds and 92% for 25-34-year-olds. www.garoelectric.com
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