Business motors ahead in Electric Vehicle take-up

Posted in Electric Vehicles

Affordability and a lack of confidence in the charging infrastructure are two of the factors holding back consumers from buying EVs.

However, due to stronger incentives in the business world, the take-up has been much greater – almost double.

To support organisations looking to install electric vehicle charging facilities at their workplace, the Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) provides a grant – The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS).

Plug-In grants are available to the public but the government has recently been criticised for reducing them by £500.

Analysis of new car registrations in 2020 by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows that just 4.6 per cent of privately bought cars were battery electric vehicles (BEVs) – compared to 8.7 per cent for businesses and large fleets.

Consumers registered 34,324 pure electric vehicles in 2020, compared to 73,881 corporate registrations, it was reported at the trade body’s day-long industry conference last week.

The number of fully electric Uber cars in London, for example, has increased from 100 to 1,600. Whilst this still represents a small percentage of its 45,000-strong fleet in the capital, the will to go electric is clearly there.

The SMMT said: “Ahead of the phase out of new pure petrol and diesel car and van sales in 2030, manufacturers have invested billions in new technology, with plug-ins now accounting for one in four of new car models available – with one in 10 powered purely by electricity.”

Given the rising uptake, the installation of more on-site charging points is a top priority for businesses and public sector bodies helping to drive through the green revolution.

If you want to know about the EV infrastructure installation options available to you, please get in touch with one of our advisors or click here to submit a no-obligation enquiry.

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