Only 23 percent of motorway services meet target number of chargers

 

According to research carried out by the RAC, the Government is unlikely to meet its target of having six or more rapid or ultra-rapid EV chargers at every motorway service area in England by the end of 2023.

Less than a quarter (23 per cent) of the 119 motorway services reviewed by the RAC currently have the target number of chargers to serve an estimated 760,000 battery electric vehicles in the UK.

The RAC’s research also found there are around 400 high-powered charging units installed at motorway services capable of charging 682 electric cars at one time.

Six motorway services in England don’t have any high-powered chargers. These are Leicester Forest on the M1 (north and southbound), Tebay South on the M6, Carlisle Northbound on the M1, Strensham Southbound on the M5 and Barton Park on the A1(M).

The intention to accelerate the roll-out of high-powered chargers on the strategic road network through the £950m Rapid Charging Fund, is set out in the Government’s ‘Taking charge: the electric vehicle infrastructure strategy’. It aims to give EV drivers the confidence to undertake longer journeys.

The document states: “We will ensure that every motorway service area has at least six rapid chargers by the end of 2023, with some having more than 12.”

There are only six services in England which currently have more than 12 of these devices. They are Exeter on the M5, Rugby on the M6, Reading East and West on the M4, Thurrock on the M25 and Wetherby on the A1(M).

The document also says rapid charge points are widely available along England’s motorways and major A roads and that drivers are never more than 25 miles away from a rapid charge point.

It adds: “Many operators of motorway service areas have embraced the ambition to install six high-powered chargers by the end of 2023. Over 70 per cent of England’s motorway service areas now have a plan to deliver this, and we will continue to work with site operators to ensure that every site is reached.”

The Government says, as a minimum, it expects there will be around 300,000 public chargers of all speeds by 2030, and more than 6000 high-powered chargers along strategic roads by 2035.

Simon Williams, RAC EV spokesperson said: “Our findings show there is much work to be done before the end of the year if the Government’s target of having six high-powered chargers at every motorway service area is to be met.

“Installing these types of units is not straightforward as connecting to the electricity grid is expensive and time-consuming, but clearly more needs to be done to make this process simpler than it is currently.

“While we understand the Government is taking steps to expedite matters, the importance of ensuring sufficient high-powered charging is readily available up and down our motorway network can’t be emphasised enough.

“As a lack of charging facilities is rapidly becoming one of the most widely quoted reasons for drivers not going electric, all parties involved in making installations happen must work together to overcome this obstacle.”