London’s roads could experience a ‘charge rage epidemic’ if the predicted demand for electric car charging points is not met, according to a new report.
Clearing the Air, authored by London Assembly member Shaun Bailey and published by Greater London Authority Conservatives, says the installation of electric charging points is occurring at an ‘unsatisfactorily slow’ rate compared with the uptake of electric vehicles.
Latest DfT figures show electric car sales are increasing by 174% every five years. However, according to the report, electric charging points are being installed at a much slower rate which means there will be just one charging point available for every 15 electric cars by 2031.
The report also says that many of the charging points currently being installed – including the 1,500 recently announced by London mayor Sadiq Khan – are ‘standard’ or ‘slow’ speed, taking between six and eight hours to fully charge a vehicle.
Mr Bailey’s report recommends the mayor abolishes his ‘costly’ plans to expand the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) and instead invests in rapid electric charging points – which can charge a vehicle in under an hour.
Shaun Bailey said:
“If London is going to fully support the adoption of electric vehicles we need adequate charging infrastructure in place.
“This report found London is not preparing to provide the right number and quality of charging points to meet predicted demand.
“The adoption of electric vehicles would go a long way to improving London’s air quality. In contrast, the mayor’s plans to expand the ULEZ will have a negligible impact on emissions.
“That is why I’m urging the mayor to abandon those plans and instead invest some of the money in improved electric-charging infrastructure.”
6 September 2017