Ban on petrol and diesel cars faces axe over EV fears
Ban on petrol and diesel cars from 2030 may need to be lifted due to lack of charging points for electric vehicles, industry experts warn
- The government wants to ban the sale of new combustion engine models in order to go green
- Industry figures suggest this may not be possible
- Analysis points to the lack of high-performance chargers at highway service stations
The ban on petrol and diesel cars in 2030 may need to be lifted due to a lack of charging points for electric vehicles, industry experts warn.
The government wants to ban the sale of new combustion engine models to go green and reduce pollution.
But industry figures suggest this may not be possible.
Analysis by the RAC points to a lack of powerful electric vehicle (EV) chargers at motorway service stations.
The cabinet has promised that ‘every roadside restaurant will have at least six fast chargers by the end of 2023’. But the RAC said only 27 of England’s 119 motorway services meet that target.
‘Charging points concern’: analysis by the RAC points to a lack of powerful electric vehicle chargers at motorway service stations
The findings will fuel “charging point anxiety,” which experts warn will deter drivers from buying electric cars if they can’t charge them while travelling.
Lisa Watson, sales director at Close Brothers Motor Finance, said: ‘The UK will lag significantly behind targets for charge points. This could have a profound effect on consumer acceptance of alternative fuel vehicles.
“If more is not done to improve the charging infrastructure, the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles in 2030 will seem an increasingly difficult task.”
Fast charging points can add about 100 miles of range to an electric car in 35 minutes and are seen as crucial in encouraging more long-distance drivers to switch to electric.
Quentin Willson, founder of EV campaign group FairCharge, said: “When you look at how quickly Tesla put their superchargers into the highway service network, you have to wonder why the government is working at such glacial speed to do the same. We need to pick up the pace.’
There are also concerns about the distribution of public charging points. While Westminster has 2,196, there are only 1,593 in Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders expects plug-in battery electric vehicles to account for 18.4 percent of car sales this year and 22.6 percent next year — down from previous forecasts of 19, 7 percent and 23.3 percent.
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: ‘The importance of ensuring that powerful charging is readily available along our motorway network cannot be overemphasized. A lack of charging options is one of the most frequently cited reasons why drivers do not drive electrically.’