DRIVERS of electric vehicles have been warned of “charging deserts” across England – where some areas face a distinct lack of road-side charging points.
Indeed, one such location requires EV owners to travel some 16 miles to locate their nearest.
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According to the Telegraph, EV drivers in the North of England and rural areas run the greatest risk of running out of battery power.
In a report by the National Audit Office, the UK is on track to meet its 2030 goal of 300,000 public charging points – a steep rise from the 64,632 counted in July.
But it also highlights a regional divide, with most new charging points springing up in London and the South East – which has left areas in the South West, West, and North crying out for more EV infrastructure.
Indeed, the NAO found that 44% of public charge points are in London and the South East, while only 15% are in rural England.
Three examples are the A49, A35, and A66 – all of which have very few charging points.
Northern regions, including the North West and Yorkshire, particularly suffer from a severe lack of EV infrastructure.
In fact, Yorkshire has just 56 charging points per 100,000 people – compared to 233 in London.
The NAO also raised concerns about grid capacity to meet the growing demand for EVs, with only 10% of motorway services having the necessary electricity supply for 2035.
On this, Ginny Buckley of Electrifying said: “This disparity in charging infrastructure must end if we’re to transition to electric vehicles.”
Despite a worldwide slowdown in EV sales, electric motors still made up a quarter of UK car sales in November.
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However, just last month, Ford’s UK boss warned that Britain’s car industry is in crisis because buyers don’t want electric vehicles.
Lisa Brankin, chairwoman and managing director of Ford UK, has spoken out after the firm announced it had axed some 800 British jobs.
She said that a mandate to produce and sell more EVs “just doesn’t work” and that there needed to be a financial incentive.
Ms Brankin suggested the government needs to offer incentives like tax breaks to get people buying EVs.
Her comments come after Stellantis, the owner of Vauxhall, said it would close its plant in Luton – putting 1,100 jobs at risk.
Elsewhere, an ultra-ambitious car maker is set to release a new budget EV that some claim could rival Tesla.
Little-known Chinese manufacturer Nio is to release a sub-brand called Firefly – which will offer entry-level electric vehicles.
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