Residents with private charging points have also begun sharing their facilities. Services like Shared charger Offering something like an Airbnb for shipping, where drivers can book the use of a neighbour.Facility.
Under-kerb cables could also help more people access private connection points, especially on streets with many tarmacs in the UK, but they are not without challenges.
Chris Richmond, who paid around £2,000 to have a groove installed at his terraced home in Bounds Green, London, is now able to access cheaper charging and no longer has to rely on nearby public machines, which he says are often busy or broken down. But using his charger requires him to park the car directly outside his house. “If someone parks outside your house where they work, you're stuffed.” He says.
There are grants available for some people wanting to install new chargers, such as those who live in apartments and residential and commercial property owners, but they are set to expire. In March.
New home connection points are also required to communicate in real time with energy suppliers, enabling companies to offer cheaper rates to consumers when supply is plentiful and encouraging motorists to avoid peak times and reduce pressure on the grid. “Our R&D is now more focused on how we can help customers improve usage time,” says Melanie Lin, CEO of the home and business charger provider. Pod point.
Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology is also being developed that enables cars to sell electricity back into the system. A trial by Ovo Energy in 2020 reported that drivers could earn an average of £340 a year by doing this. Octopus Energy's new V2G tariff guarantees free charging to drivers who deliver for around six hours a day, allowing the company to optimize their charging process, as long as they stay below the cap of 333 kWh per month – roughly 19,000 kilometers (12,000 miles). . year.
Despite the progress that has been made over the past few years, many drivers are still unsure about making the switch. Recent surveys have consistently shown that motorists have concerns about pricing, charging and battery durability.
“The big thing that plays into this is just perception,” says Jenny Buckley, founder of Electrifying.com, an electric car buying site. Advice site.
According to a poll of petrol and diesel car drivers, conducted for the non-profit Energy and Climate Information Unit in April last year, more than half of survey respondents got only two or fewer answers correct out of 10 statements. About electric vehicles.
Max Warburton, CFO of British self-driving car startup Wayve, says more needs to be done to address these public misconceptions. “In fact, buying an electric car is so compelling that we've reached the point where some apparent consumer reticence has become almost irrational.” He says.
