The transition to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) could be slowed down by a lack of affordable charging options says the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP).
Without access to home or depot charging options, EV drivers have to resort to retail charging facilities which are often significantly more expensive. Paul Hollick, the AFP chair has cited the pence per kWh, which can reach as high as 80 pence on public chargers, as a significant barrier to BEV adoption.
While the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach reveals that EVs are cheaper to run across their lifetime, this is only true where low-cost charging options are readily available. Where this isn’t the case, running costs can prove to be unsustainable and fleets are “priced out of electrification” according to Hollick.
Extensive infrastructural improvements, including low-cost on-street charging facilities, will be crucial to wider EV adoption. Hollick believes investment here will improve affordability while also increasing the convenience of day-to-day operations and boosting the used EV market. With this in mind, the AFP is urging the next government to consider a significant expansion of on-street charging.
The AFP is already working on mapping areas where charging facilities will have the most impact. Hollick reports that “[…] there are clear opportunities for fleets to work with local authorities who are accessing centralised Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Funding. There is the potential for change to happen quickly with a constructive approach.”
As electric vehicle prices potentially decline, EVs could soon be more available to a wider range of buyers. However, accessible, convenient and cost-effective charging facilities will be essential. Hollick commented: “Unless people can charge economically, they are understandably unlikely to buy.”
