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Sustainability and climate have become increasingly important to the average citizen in recent years, as evidence continues to mount surrounding the dangers of carbon emission and the immediate threat to both global and local ecosystems. This new revolution in public support for sustainability has taken a number of distinct forms, each of which have had their own impacts on industry; one such form is the rise of the electric vehicle.

The electric revolution was already well underway, with early adopters like Nissan releasing commercially successful EVs as early as the early 2010s. Today, though, the market is much more competitive, as EV design continues to improve and EVs start to give their petrol-fuelled counterparts a run for their money. But, even as the market edges closer to wholesale adoption of electric motors as norm, there is something of an elephant in the room.

The UK’s Charging Infrastructure

While EVs are being developed and rolled out at breakneck pace, the infrastructure required to accommodate them is lagging behind. EVs require dedicated and publicly-accessible charging points in order to be useful for long-haul journeys, and for a majority of users in urban spaces day to day.

As it stands, there are just shy of 40,000 charging points available in the UK. In order for the government to meet a 2030 target of 300,000 available charging points, installation needs to speed up by nearly three times to ensure the infrastructure is in place – all in service of an eventual ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles.

The Homeowner’s Advantage

In the meantime, then, public charging is by no means a guarantee – which brings us to the elephant in the room. Homeowners with driveways have a distinct advantage in owning an EV, where they can build the infrastructure necessary to house and fast-charge their car at home.

Those that rent property or live in flats cannot have fast-charging outlets installed without petitioning a landlord or the council, and even some homeowners without driveway space will remain relegated to running an extension lead from a 230V outlet for slow overnight charging.

What Motorists Think

Regardless the present issues with charging infrastructure, and the stratifying effect it has had on EV owners, there is still widespread support for EVs as a concept. Indeed, the general shift away from fossil fuels has been met positively by a majority of drivers.

According to recent statistics, more than half of the UK’s driving population intend to switch from a fossil-fuelled car to an EV within five years. Though the proposed ban on the sale of new gas-guzzlers in 2030 does not include pre-owned vehicles, many drivers are still keen to get ahead of the curve and enjoy the benefits of an EV today.

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