‘Chargepoint Anxiety’ Sees Demand for Electric Cars Slump

A Renault staff member poses at a promotion event in London on Nov. 4, 2017. Tolga Akmen/AFP

The automotive market in Britain will have weaker demand for Battery electric vehicles [BEVs] in 2023, with experts predicting a drop in numbers amid high energy costs and insufficient charging infrastructure.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders [SMMT] released its latest figures and forecasts on May 4. The association anticipates a softened demand for BEVs, having downgraded their expected 2023 market share from 19.7 percent to 18.4 percent.

While in January, SMMT estimated that in 2024, 23.3 percent of new car registrations will be BEVs, it revised its evaluation lower to 22.6 percent.

“The new car market is increasingly bullish, as easing supply chain pressures provide a much-needed boost. However, the broader economic conditions and chargepoint anxiety are beginning to cast a cloud over the market’s eagerness to adopt zero-emission mobility at the scale and pace needed,” SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said.

To ensure all drivers can benefit from electric vehicles, the UK government, local authorities, energy companies, and charging providers need to accelerate their investment in the transition and bolster consumer confidence in making the switch, added Hawes.

A zero-emission vehicle mandate [ZEV] is due to come into effect in the UK next year, requiring vehicle makers to ensure at least 22 percent of their new car sales and 10 percent of new vans are zero emissions in 2024. With that comes a need for greater and faster investment in appropriate infrastructure for electric vehicles, as well as greater incentives for drivers to buy, said SMMT.

In light of the government’s consultation on the design of the ZEV mandate for new cars and vans, a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation Stellantis has argued that there is a need for clarity over Westminster’s plan.

Stellantis vice president Paul Willcox has stressed that the industry is in need of support when it comes to investments in the manufacture of electric vehicles in the UK.

“On charging, we welcome the clarity brought, however, it is disappointing that there is not a clearer requirement to provide a minimum charging capacity per low-emission vehicle or to ensure a minimum density of fast chargers on our major road transport routes in order to further increase consumer confidence,” he added.

SMMT figures showed BEVs remained the second most popular fuel type, with deliveries up by more than half to 20,522 and 15.4 percent of the market.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles [PHEVs] also posted strong growth, up 33.3 percent with 8,595 registered in the month, while hybrid electric vehicles [HEVs] recorded a 7.7 percent increase to 15,026 units.

Electrified vehicles accounted for more than one in three registrations in April, while petrol-powered cars retained their best-selling status, comprising 58.1 percent of all registrations.

Chargepoint Anxiety

Separate Department for Transport [DfT] figures released on May 4 showed the number of publicly available electric vehicle charging devices in the UK, broken down by Local Authority for January to March 2023.

As of April 1, 2023, there were 40,150 public electric vehicle charging devices installed in the UK. Among these, 7,647 were rated “rapid” devices or above—representing 19 percent of all charging devices—and 22,338 were rated “fast” chargers—representing 56 percent of all charging devices.

Rapid charging or above devices are those whose fastest connector is rated at 25kW and above and includes chargepoints classified as either rapid or ultra-rapid, while Fast Charging Devices represent 7kW to 22kW.

Charging devices are distributed unevenly in terms of their geographical location. DfT figures show that London and Scotland had the highest level of charging provision per capita, with 145 and 72 devices per 100,000 population respectively. In comparison, the average provision in the UK was 60 per 100,000.

The infrastructure for electric vehicles is mostly market-led, said DfT, which means private businesses choose where to install devices.

Hawes said that for the ZEV mandate to work, there should be a stronger commitment by infrastructure providers.

“It is also disappointing that, unlike in other countries, there is no commensurate regulation to drive investment into the public network given that paucity of chargepoints remains the biggest barrier to buying an electric vehicle,” he said.

With the rising energy costs, however, some consumers may still shy away from switching to electric vehicles. However, the ZEV mandate is set to compel car manufacturers to ensure that in 2030 at least 80 percent of their new car sales and 70 percent of new vans are zero emissions.

The figure is expected to reach 100 percent for both by 2035.