Think of factors that affect how eager people are to buy an electric vehicle, and range anxiety features near the top of the list. But what does that really mean?
Even cheap EV models have a range of over 200 miles. That’s more than enough for most journeys. More expensive models now have a 500+ mile range. Even on a long journey most of us would expect to need a stop before the battery charge expired.
Range anxiety really means ‘will there be a working rapid charger available where I need it?’ Business users of EVs will tell you how they still have to plan journeys carefully using an EV charger map.
All About The Numbers?
The good news is that the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging points in the UK is growing rapidly. As of October 2023 we had 51,516 EV charging points across 30,360 charging locations. A 45% increase in devices since October 2022.
Even better news is the growth of ultra-rapid charging devices – ideal for a quick ‘charge and go.’ As of October 2023 there were 9,627 rapid and ultra-rapid charging devices across 4,938 locations in the UK. This represents a 96% increase in 12 months.
But range anxiety lives on.
The Link Between Availability And Desirability
A lot has been made of Hertz deciding to sell off around a third of its global EV fleet (mostly Teslas). Disappointing rental demand was cited as a factor.
If you think about it, the perception of poor public charging availability would have a big impact on car renters who won’t be able to do what most EV drivers do – charge up at home.
Location And Accessibility Are Crucial
Quantity is only part of the availability issue. The other significant factor is location. More EV chargers in service stations will help meet some of the additional demand. But what happens when people reach a destination?
Small footprint multi deck parking designed for easy charger installation can also simplify power distribution to charging points.
Integrating public charging with public parking is an opportunity to boost EV use that hasn’t been fully exploited. The modular car parking system developed by Octavius and Siderpark makes EV charger integration simple.
Small footprint multi-deck parking designed for easy charger installation can also simplify power distribution to charging points – avoiding the need to dig up parking bays to install cabling. The result: more charging stations where people need them.
The Government has set a target of having 300,000 public EV charging points by 2030. Maximum impact will be achieved by considering location and accessibility as well as the total number.
Octavius Case studies:
Octavius have completed several projects installing EV charges at railway stations and in public car parks.
At Three Bridges in West Sussex, on behalf of their client Network Rail, Octavius installed six charging points and a new distribution cabinet, along with the associated ducts, crash barriers, line marking and lighting. The chargers are for Network Rail depots’ new fleet of electric vans. Each unit is compatible with all major EV models and features rapid charging capabilities, ensuring minimal downtime for drivers. This initiative marks a significant step towards Octavius’s commitment to sustainable transportation, providing convenient and accessible charging for contractors and members of the public alike.
Public car park installations have also included Salford Royal Car Park which boasts 354 parking spaces, 6 of which were 7kWh EV spaces and 31 disables spaces, all of which have been installed on the ground floor. This car park was built on limited, valuable land which hospital and public sector buildings occupy. Hospitals increasingly demand greater parking capacity and the Octavius modular steel framed car park solved this pressing problem.
You can read further Octavius car park case studies at this link.
For more information contact: hello@octavius.co.uk
