Update | Demand for more charging infrastructure as EV ownership increases

We recently received additional information on a press release issued at the beginning of December on Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) charge points. Below is an update to the data and graph. We would like to apologise for any issues this may have caused.

Updated analysis by Cornwall Insight shows the number of public electric vehicle (EV) charge points per battery EV (BEV) has fallen yet again. This sees a 0.20 public charge point for every EV on UK roads; this further decline is shown in the updated graph below.

Katie Hickford, Analyst at Cornwall Insight, said:

“The number of charge points has seen a reduction to lowest levels on record. COVID-19 restrictions have played a large part in the decrease in the rate of charge point installations recently. This has been uniquely coupled with a rise in EV ownership with registrations continuing to grow.

“However, the number of charge points are only a small part of the infrastructure – they need to be in the right locations and the right type of charger.

“With a ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles to 2030 EVs will undoubtedly grow in importance and so too will their public charging infrastructure. So, it will be interesting to see how quickly this vital infrastructure will grow.”

The number of charge points are only a small part of the infrastructure - they need to be in the right locations and the right type of charger.
Announcement E-mobility and low carbon
Katie Hickford

Katie Hickford

Related thinking

E-mobility and low carbon

Another one bites the dust: Plug-in car grant ends

Last week the government announced the plug-in car grant scheme for electric vehicles (EVs) closed, having previously confirmed funding until 2022-23. Why? Well, the government stated it would allow it to concentrate funding towards what it called the main barriers to the EV transition, including public charging and supporting the...

E-mobility and low carbon

Expanded guidance provides more clarity on electricity supply to EVs

In a burgeoning EV-centric world, Ofgem’s updated guidance on supplying electricity to electric vehicles (EV) should provide clarity for many organisations around the supply arrangements in place for different charging scenarios. Due to their mobile nature, EVs don’t fit in with the legislative model that defines an electricity consumer by...

Energy storage and flexibility

Emerging utility business models

This article is from our latest Energy Spectrum and the January 2022 issue of EEnergy Informer, a newsletter edited by Fereidoon Sioshansi of Menlo Energy Economics and editor of Variable Generation, Flexible Demand. As numerous prior articles have pointed out, the traditional utility business model seems to be on its...

E-mobility and low carbon

Net Zero Strategy: key points

Yesterday, the government announced its long-awaited Net Zero Strategy, a 368-page document that provides a route the nation will take to a net zero economy. The strategy outlines how spending will be prioritised for power, fuel supply and hydrogen, industry, heat and buildings, transport, natural resources, and greenhouse gas removals....

E-mobility and low carbon

EV Charge Points

As part of the Climate Action Plan, Ireland has committed to having nearly one million electric vehicles (EVs) on the road by 2030. To help encourage the uptake of EVs, a number of incentives have been put in place such as tax subsidies and generous grants toward the purchase of a new or...

Low carbon generation

Up north and down south – trends for generator TNUoS charging

The topic of generator Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS) is becoming a subject of increasing interest for stakeholders as regulation, policy, and the generation mix create potential volatility for future charging trends. The significant costs posed through TNUoS are an important consideration for generators, with high variability between regions...

Regulation and policy

Answers to some FAQs about Brexit

Following the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 and the signing of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, aspects of the relationship between UK and the EU in respect of the arrangements for energy trading and cooperation have changed. We set out answers to some Frequently Asked Questions...

Business supply and services

A look back at 2020 part 3

As we take our first steps into 2021, we continue to look back at the biggest developments in the UK energy markets in 2020, setting us up for the significant year ahead. The mergers and exits from the supply market that were seen in 2019 continued into 2020 and led...