According to a poll by Which?, the majority of UK EV drivers are dissatisfied with the current charging network, reporting issues such as high costs, poor reliability, and confusion.
Which?'s poll indicates that the public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles is deemed inadequate, affecting the adoption of greener transportation. Almost 69% of electric car owners express discontent with the availability and functionality of charging stations.
The survey reveals that one-third of EV drivers and 48% of plug-in hybrid owners find public charging points excessively expensive, exacerbated by a 20% VAT on usage compared to a 5% tax for home charging. This disproportionately affects those without off-street parking and a dedicated device connected to their home energy tariff.
Furthermore, 73% of respondents experienced faulty public chargers in the past year, while 37% found it challenging to locate a working station. Complexity arises from various operators each having their own app, cited by 21% of EV drivers and 25% of hybrid owners.
An overwhelming 85% express a preference for a straightforward system enabling contactless payment. Sue Davies, Head of Consumer Protection Policy at Which?, emphasises the need for government and charge point operators to collaborate and improve the charging infrastructure, making it easy and reliable for users.
'People want to make more sustainable choices and switch to an electric vehicle, but many drivers have a lack of confidence in the public charging infrastructure.
'The Government and charge point operators must continue working together to ensure the UK's charging infrastructure is up to scratch. Charging must be easy and reliable.'
Official figures from the Department for Transport indicate a 45% increase in charge points within a year, reaching over 16,600 installations in 2023, contributing to a total of 53,677 public charging devices in the UK. However, regional disparities persist, with London and Scotland boasting significantly more devices per 100,000 people compared to Northern Ireland. Transport & Environment UK's Richard Hebditch urges the government to address these disparities, particularly in regions like Yorkshire and the North West.