Urgent action is needed to speed up the installation of EV charging points across the Midlands region, according to new analysis by sub-national transport body Midlands Connect.
The ‘Supercharging the Midlands’ report suggests that EV use will increase by over 3,000% by the end of the decade, and that installation of public EV charging points must be six times as fast to support growing demand.
At present, 93% of EV owners have access to off-street parking and can install an at-home EV charger. However, a third of Midlands households do not have off-street parking, and so would need to rely solely on public chargers to power their EV, states the report.
Research with over 3,500 people across the Midlands reveals that a lack of public charging points is a concern for 55% of motorists and is a factor that puts them off switching to an EV.
Anxiety about battery range was also an issue for half of respondents. Despite these concerns, 77% of those questioned – with access to a petrol/diesel vehicle – would consider buying an EV next.
Estimates suggest that by 2030, the Midlands could be home to over 1.7 million EVs, with over one in four vehicles being electric. Currently, less than one in every 100 vehicles is an EV.
To support this growing number of EVs, some 39,410 new public EV charging points must be installed across the Midlands by the end of the decade, according to the report.
This means installing 11 new EV charging points every day, 76 per week, and 3,491 per year until the end of 2030. The speed of installations needed to meet these targets is over six times the current rate.
Maria Machancoses, chief executive of Midlands Connect, said: “We’re in the grip of a climate emergency, and when it comes to installing EV charging points, the Midlands cannot fall behind.
“We know that being worried about not being able to charge when needed is a major factor that puts many off making their next car electric; this needs to change.
“By working together to create a region-wide EV strategy and overcome the challenges of installing the infrastructure we need, we can move one step closer to decarbonising our transport network.
“Local authorities across the Midlands are doing a great job to roll out charging points, but they cannot do this alone.
“Government, the automotive industry and private suppliers must all play a part in speeding up the roll out and ensuring councils have the support they need.”
