Report identifies disparities in EV charging costs across the UK
Electric vehicle (EV) owners in the Southern parts of England are paying over a quarter (28%) more than those in North England and Wales when charging an EV using public chargers, according to the findings of a new report commissioned by British Gas.
EV drivers in the South including in East Anglia, London, the South East and South West of England use £32/KWh to recharge whilst it takes £25/KWh for a driver in the North in areas including the Midlands, the North East and North West of England, as well as Yorkshire and The Humber when using the cheapest chargers that are owned by councils.
To fast charge EVs, drivers in the South are paying 10% more than those in the North. This is despite the South of England having more chargers – 1,468 more than the Northern region.
Lucy Simpson, Head of EV Enablement at British Gas said: “Currently, we have 21 progressive councils that have decided to support local EV adoption, so we would expect a greater uptake of EVs to come through in these areas than in councils where it is expensive to charge.”
The study found that some 21 councils across England and Wales, including Leeds, Bridgend and Woking are offering free charging for users powering EVs using public units.
Barriers to EV adoption
The differences in the number of chargers across various councils and in charging tariffs are making the transition to EVs less accessible ahead of the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, highlights the study.
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For the transition goals to become a reality, the study highlights the importance of inclusivity and equality in the deployment of chargers and the implementation of charging tariffs.
Issues around EV charging have over the past decade remained a huge challenge hindering the adoption of smart mobility with the study by British Gas highlighting that one in three UK drivers are nervous about switching to an EV due to expensive public charging costs.
Other factors identified as barriers to EV adoption include the inability of government incentives to cover enough of the EVs costs and the time it takes to fully charge an EV hence the need for increased deployment of fast chargers.
British Gas recommends increased rollout of home chargers and integration of charging systems with green energy to reduce the costs as potential solutions to current charging challenges. Government subsidies for EV charging have also been recommended to reduce the costs of charging.
The study also revealed that drivers have limited information on the location and capabilities of EV charging technologies.
However, the appetite for EVs continues to increase with 49% of the people surveyed in the study stating they plan to buy an EV as their next vehicle.
The study assesses measures being implemented by some 400 UK councils to support consumer EV adoption by addressing the lack of adequate charging infrastructure.
Simpson added: “Whilst the government does offer certain financial incentives at the point of purchase, charging costs are still a barrier to electric vehicle adoption. With 29% of drivers citing expensive public charging as one of the main reasons holding them back, it’s unfair that those who don’t live in areas with either free or low-cost charging are being discriminated against based on their address. If this continues, we risk leaving a huge number of drivers behind in the transition to electric cars.”
