Automotive industry calls on Government to deliver more EV infrastructure to ease “charging anxiety”

Wednesday 23 March 2022 11:25 am

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has called on the UK Government to deliver more investment in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to ease this decade’s “charging anxiety.”

According to data, the ratio between charging infrastructure and number of electric vehicles has worsened in the last year.

“Last year, it was about one for every 16 EVs on the road, this year it’s more likely to be one for every 32,” SMMT’s chief executive Mike Hawes told journalists during a press conference. “Things are getting worse because of that pace of market transition for EV sales.

“We need infrastructure to catch up.”

Hawes added that while infrastructure for private vehicles is lagging behind, in other parts of mobility such as commercial vehicles infrastructure is basically non-existent.

“So that’s why we’re calling for a national plan to get the right charges in the right place ahead of need, for binding targets on infrastructure to match those that we as an industry are getting and for all stakeholders to being able to play their part.”

Both today’s Spring Budget and this week’s infrastructure strategy offer the UK Government a good chance to plug the gap between ambition and delivery, Hawes added.

“With bold investments and policies that bring all stakeholders together, government can help us harness those headwinds,” he said referring to rising energy as well as logistics and raw materials’ costs.

“By working and investing together, we can supercharge the market, future-proof manufacturing and create the electrified future that everyone expects.”