Post by thomas on Nov 13, 2024 13:39:00 GMT
When nearly 57 % of local authorities surveyed dont even have street charging infrastructure strategies in place , you do wonder who is paying for all these pie in the sky ideas , never mind how it all works in practice.I thought this was a decent article here from car supermarket regarding the uks struggle to electrify residential streets ...
As the UK accelerates towards its electric vehicle (EV) future, a significant roadblock has emerged: the lack of on-street charging infrastructure. Recent data from Vauxhall's Electric Streets of Britain campaign has revealed a staggering demand for residential EV charging, with motorists from over 11,500 streets across the country clamouring for councils to install on-street charging points. This groundswell of public interest highlights a critical challenge in the UK's transition to electric mobility, one that's proving to be a logistical nightmare for local authorities.
The crux of the issue lies in the UK's unique housing landscape. Unlike many countries with sprawling suburbs and ample driveways, a significant portion of UK housing stock consists of terraced houses, flats, and properties without off-street parking. In fact, an estimated 40% of UK households lack access to a driveway, rendering them dependent on public charging infrastructure. This presents a stark contrast to the current reality where 80% of EV charging occurs at home, exposing a glaring gap in the nation's charging strategy.
James Taylor, Managing Director of Vauxhall, underscores the urgency of the situation: "On-street residential charging is critical to the adoption and acceleration of electric vehicles. Thanks to the public, we already know of over 11,000 roads where we need to install on-street chargers today to make it more convenient for EV drivers and remove a barrier for those wanting to switch to electric."
However, the path to widespread on-street charging is fraught with challenges. Local authorities, already grappling with stretched budgets, now face the daunting task of rolling out extensive charging networks. A recent Freedom of Information request by Vauxhall revealed that 56.5% of the 267 local authorities who responded still do not have a published on-street residential charging strategy in place. While this represents an improvement from the previous year, it illustrates the significant work that remains to be done.
The logistical challenges are manifold. Councils must navigate a complex web of planning permissions, electrical grid capacity issues, and the physical constraints of narrow pavements and crowded streets. There's also the question of fairness - how to ensure equitable access to charging points among residents, and how to manage the inevitable conflicts over parking spaces.
The crux of the issue lies in the UK's unique housing landscape. Unlike many countries with sprawling suburbs and ample driveways, a significant portion of UK housing stock consists of terraced houses, flats, and properties without off-street parking. In fact, an estimated 40% of UK households lack access to a driveway, rendering them dependent on public charging infrastructure. This presents a stark contrast to the current reality where 80% of EV charging occurs at home, exposing a glaring gap in the nation's charging strategy.
James Taylor, Managing Director of Vauxhall, underscores the urgency of the situation: "On-street residential charging is critical to the adoption and acceleration of electric vehicles. Thanks to the public, we already know of over 11,000 roads where we need to install on-street chargers today to make it more convenient for EV drivers and remove a barrier for those wanting to switch to electric."
However, the path to widespread on-street charging is fraught with challenges. Local authorities, already grappling with stretched budgets, now face the daunting task of rolling out extensive charging networks. A recent Freedom of Information request by Vauxhall revealed that 56.5% of the 267 local authorities who responded still do not have a published on-street residential charging strategy in place. While this represents an improvement from the previous year, it illustrates the significant work that remains to be done.
The logistical challenges are manifold. Councils must navigate a complex web of planning permissions, electrical grid capacity issues, and the physical constraints of narrow pavements and crowded streets. There's also the question of fairness - how to ensure equitable access to charging points among residents, and how to manage the inevitable conflicts over parking spaces.
the article also suggests , as zany points out , innovative ideas are emerging( however workable or unworkable they may be) but once again , we go back to the fact that the sheer scale of what needs to be implemented means everyone from Joe Bloggs to local council , from devolved to central governments , and crucially massive amounts of money means yet again we hit the barrier in the road of cost and inconvenience.
