The boss of one of Britain’s biggest car leasing businesses has dismissed the government’s planned investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure as ‘inadequate’, warning that a huge upturn in demand for EVs since the fuel crisis risks overwhelming capacity. Andy Alderson, founder and CEO of online leasing brand Vanarama, has seen orders for electric cars skyrocket by more than 1,000% in 2021 and more than double since fuel shortages began in late September. The online leasing marketplace now processes an average of 55 pure-electric vehicle orders every day and expects to deliver more than 20,000 EVs to customers in the next calendar year.
But he says the huge surge in consumer demand for EVs is far outpacing the roll-out of public charge points, and that the £620 million investment announced this week as part of the Government’s Net Zero Strategy goes nowhere near far enough.
Speaking just weeks before world leaders gather in Glasgow for COP26, Alderson warns that a failure by Ministers to accelerate investment risks stalling the switch from internal combustion cars, putting the goal to end the sale of all petrol and diesel cars by 2030 at risk.
This, he says, would be failing UK motorists, the UK automotive industry and the environment.
Alderson said: “The Government needs to act and act quickly if it is to remain on course for its Net Zero targets. We are seeing massive demand for electric vehicles and that demand is growing all the time. But if nothing is done to improve the availability of public charge points, we risk losing the momentum. Every car manufacturer has accelerated plans for electric vehicles and it’s imperative that the government follows suit.”
A report issued earlier this week by independent transport research organisation New AutoMotive agreed with Alderson’s assessment. It estimates that the UK will need between 230,000 and 280,000 public chargers by 2035 to meet demand. There are currently just 24,000.
EXTRA POWER GENERATION FOR CHARGING POINTS? ALL TALK, LITLE ACTION
Charging points are great but where will the electricity to charge cars and vans come from? There is just one new nuclear power station being built in the UK, at Hinckley Point, due to be online by 2026. Other proposed nuclear power stations face fierce opposition from every Nimby in Britain.
Currently one of the two power cables from France which supplies electricity to the UK is damaged by fire. It’s not expected to be repaired and operating again for two years.
Drax are proposing a gas fired power station in Suffolk, but again it’s still at the planning stage.
Although Britain plans to phase out coal fired power statins, two were recently fired up to help the National Grid on particularly calm days, when wind turbines are useless.
So, if you buy an electric vehicle, you had better buy your own diesel generator too. Just in case.
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