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Two EV Charging Points For Every Petrol Station

29 June 2020

As technology improves, and we realise more and more the need to switch to low carbon living, electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular.

Arguably, one of the biggest factors holding some people back from switching to electric is the common myth, shared throughout the UK, that EV charging points are few and far between. This is despite the fact that the number of these facilities has been on a steep incline over the last few years.

According to the AA, there are twice as many EV charging points (17,947) as there are petrol stations (3,107). So, why then do we have this misconception around the availability of these facilities, or rather, lack thereof? Unclear signage could be partially to be to blame, with many charging points set up as parking spaces at supermarkets, hotels and other public car parks. Compared with large, clearly signed petrol stations, these charging points are easy to miss, without searching online.

Recently, we have also seen the introduction of Ecotricity’s Electric Highway, a “charging network with EV chargers located up and down Britain's motorways”. This system was set up to throw out the old reputation of electric vehicles as being suitable only for short or strategically planned journeys. By making these charging points accessible, drivers of electric vehicles can travel more freely, with less hassle.  

In the last few years, with rumours first circulating around 2015, the idea of EV charging lanes on motorways was floated in various news stories, both in UK and Europe. In January of this year, 2020, it was announced that Renault, along with 32 of their European partners, will be spearheading this technological advancement, with plans to launch a 48-month, multi-phased project to introduce new charging solutions for electric vehicles.

In July of 2017, in an interview with a spokesperson from the news outlet, Autocar, a senior EV engineer from Renault said that, “Maybe ten years is a good timescale for this technology”, meaning that we could see these EV charging lanes incorporated in our motorways before the turn of the next century.

We at Marshall Leasing are receiving numerous enquiries about electric vehicles. We’re here to help with anyone looking to navigate this exciting but sometimes complex sector. Please give us a call on 01480 414541.

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