Competition and Markets Authority raises concern over slow roll-out of electric car charging infrastructure and says it ‘should be as simple as filling up with petrol or diesel’
- CMA says improvements are needed ahead of 2030 ban on sale of new ICE cars
- It expressed concerns about the motorway charging infrastructure
- A lack of on-street public charging could see rural areas ‘being left behind’
- It warned a difficulty to charge an EV could stop motorists from going electric
Electric car charging provision at motorway service areas, on local roads and in rural areas is inadequate and needs to be accelerated as a matter of urgency, the competition regulator has warned on Friday.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the public charging infrastructure must be improved ahead of the 2030 ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines, saying battery vehicle charging ‘should be as simple as filling up with petrol or diesel’ to encourage drivers to make the switch.
It expressed concern about the choice and availability of places to plug in an electric car at motorway service stations and said the rollout of on-street charging by local authorities – which many drivers without off-street parking rely on – is ‘too slow’, while rural areas at risk of ‘being left behind’ due to a lack of investment.
Competition and Markets Authority wants EV charging infrastructure improved to a level that it is ‘as simple as filling up with petrol or diesel’
The CMA cited research indicating that difficulties with charging could stop motorists switching to electric cars.
Anxiety over the reliability of chargepoints, comparing prices and paying for charging ‘risk reducing people’s confidence and trust’, the CMA said.
It comes after a new index launched by insurer LV= this week claimed that a mainstream electric family car costs £1,300 less a year on average to run compared to an equivalent petrol or diesel model, meaning the premium price paid for an expensive EV will be recovered within a seven-year ownership period.
Andrea Coscelli, the organisation’s chief executive, stated that electric vehicles ‘play a critical role’ in reducing carbon emissions, but the challenges of ‘creating an entirely new charging network should not be underestimated’.
She went on: ‘Some areas of the rollout are going well and the UK’s network is growing – but it’s clear that other parts, like charging at motorway service stations and on-street, have much bigger hurdles to overcome.
‘There needs to be action now to address the postcode lottery in electric vehicle charging as we approach the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.’
The CMA made a series of recommendations, including that the Government sets out an ‘ambitious national strategy’ for expanding charging infrastructure up to the end of the decade.
Whitehall should define a clear role for local authorities to manage charging in their area, and establish a pubic body to monitor the sector.
The regulator has also launched a competition law investigation into long-term exclusive arrangements for charging at motorway service areas.
It says drivers of the latest EVs should have access to a charging network that is as simple as filling up with petrol and diesel.
This means having a universal system that clearly highlights the locations where devices are, if they are working and whether they are available.
It also demanded for an easy pay structure, meaning a standardised pricing scheme, access for all EVs from different brands and acceptance of contactless payments.
Commenting on the CMA’s report, Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy and watchdog Which?, said: ‘The UK’s electric car charging network is confusing, disjointed and in dire need of reform to make it a viable option for all, especially those who do not have access to a private charger – so it’s promising to see the CMA calling for a national strategy to improve the sector and investigating competition concerns.
‘To ensure electric cars are a choice for most consumers, the government should take these recommendations seriously and take the necessary steps to make the public charging network larger, simpler and more accessible than it is today.’
The CMA’s report comes just a day after Mercedes-Benz owner, Daimler, outlined how it will move ahead with its electric future, promising to sell an electric version of every car in its range by 2025 – and aim to be ‘ready’ to be a fully-electric brand by the end of the decade.
One of the steps in its transition to EVs will arrive this year with the introduction of a ‘Plug & Charge’ system.
This will allow customers to plug-in, charge and unplug their electric Mercedes cars without extra steps needed for authentication and payment processing.
It will be debuted later this year when in the EQS and mean drivers will be billed directly by Mercedes for any charging sessions using public devices.
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