Global EV outlook and adoption trends

There are an abundance of adoption challenges and opportunities awaiting us. Here, Electronic Specifier highlights three key factors required to speed up EV adoption in the UK.

Make EVs easier to choose

Purchasing an EV is harder than purchasing an internal combustion vehicle (ICE), and not enough sellers have the correct knowledge. What’s more, the process of buying any vehicle is complicated and choosing to go electric adds to this complexity, creating a daunting situation. Early adopters of EVs often understand what they want to purchase and why, before even visiting a dealership. However, mass market consumers who simply want a vehicle are likely to be less informed. Vehicle dealers who are incentivised to sell vehicles, rather than EVs, naturally choose the path of least resistance and guide customers towards purchasing what they are certain they can sell: ICEs.

Key to combatting this resistance is consumer education. As EVs are still a relatively new technology many mainstream consumers are unaware or just learning about the advantages and disadvantages. This means misconceptions are still common. The average consumer will require help and time to understand what is changing and what will remain the same.

Electric utilities are a natural fit for EV education and have an opportunity to lead it. As they are already communicating with potential drivers, they have a vested interest in increased adoption, and will remain part of an EV driver’s journey once they have purchased the vehicle.

Make EVs easier to afford

The emergence and adoption of increasingly cost competitive electric vehicles will be the primary route to decarbonise road transport. Although the cost of EVs is beginning to fall, they are still more expensive than ICE, and an affluent minority are driving interest in EVs. Additionally, retrofitting a residence for home-based charging can be expensive.

For new car buyers with a lower budget, EV options remain limited. Below £30,000, there are just 25 EV models vs 175 ICE models.

Even with rebates accounted for, the purchase price of an EV remains a barrier and EVs are considered a luxury item by many. Although with the continuing drop in battery prices thanks to advancements in technology and production efficiencies, the industry is getting closer to price parity.

Make EVs easier to charge

Studies have continuously proved that limited charging infrastructure is a primary barrier to EV adoption. These studies indicate that policy should encourage a multi-faceted approach to reducing barriers to EV ownership, such as expanding charging opportunities at home, workplaces, public venues, and along transportation corridors.

56% of people state that range anxiety is a concern, and some have practical reasons for such concerns. Drivers might not have access to dedicated charging infrastructure either at work or at home. Again, educating consumers is key to combating this.

The reliability of charging infrastructure is also a hurdle. In a fuel vehicle, refueling is easy and commonly available en route. However, the same trip for an electric vehicle driver requires researching the location of charging stations along the way and setting aside time to recharge.

The journey ahead

To increase the uptake of EVs it is required to get over this chasm of EVs being difficult to afford, choose and charge. Driving this agenda will ensure change happen. The rapid uptake of EVs will be the most significant change in our energy sector over the next 10 years and if the UK is to reach its emissions targets, virtually all transport will need to be based on low carbon energy sources rather than fossil fuels.