Power to the People
Catherine Bowen, senior policy advisor at the BVRLA, on how closer collaboration can work to create a more fleet-friendly charging infrastructure
Catherine Bowen, senior policy advisor, BVRLA
Electric vehicles are getting better and better. New launches bring more choice every week. Greater variety is meeting more needs than ever. This acceleration of performance and vehicle diversity means that fewer and fewer use cases have a genuine reason not to go electric. The spectre of range anxiety is diminishing every day...
But are we entering a new era of charge anxiety? There are certainly signs that the UK’s charging infrastructure is causing increasing concern.
Can drivers rely on easy access to infrastructure when they most need it – at busy periods around the key motorway networks, for example? We are seeing too many reports of charge points being inoperable, inaccessible, or inundated.
This will change. It has to. Charging infrastructure is one of the Government’s top priorities and we have been telling officials where and how support is needed. They have responded with confirmation of additional funding, plus real-world trials through the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) programme.
This year we will also see a step change in how local schemes are rolled out. More powers are being given to local authorities, handing them the responsibility to develop and deliver plans that create a local charging infrastructure fit for their region’s needs.
While this supports local solutions for local challenges, it will only be successful if the right information reaches the right teams. Collaboration is critical. As a fleet sector, we need to share our insights, knowledge and solutions so local authorities can make informed, fleet-friendly decisions.
Recent research by the BVRLA shows that barely a third of local authorities already have an EV strategy in place. More worrying is the finding that only 3% nationwide have actively engaged with the fleet sector. This must change.
Local authorities and Members of Parliament are calling out for support. The BVRLA’s recent Parliamentary Reception was evidence of that. Politicians and decision-makers want to know how to best meet the needs of their constituents. As part of the event, they actively pledged to support “the rollout of a fleet-friendly EV infrastructure”.
When compelling, data-led cases can be made to them, showing what charging infrastructure is required, they can put more targeted, effective plans in place.
It is up to us as the fleet sector to ensure we are part of the conversation and having our voices heard. The BVRLA is committed to shaping those conversations to represent fleet needs as regularly as possible. Our updated Fleet Charging Guide contains 18 recommendations for LAs.
They span six distinct areas:
- Matching types of provision to emerging gaps in infrastructure
- Building trust
- Ensuring consistent ease of access
- Taking a holistic approach
- Overcoming grid capacity challenges
- Delivering appropriate infrastructure for rental operators at airports
The guide and its recommendations go hand in hand with our LA research, from which we have created our Fleet Friendliness Index. The Index shows how different authorities compare to each other and how they are performing when it comes to meeting fleet charging needs.
Armed with the Guide and Index, we are supercharging our engagement with local authorities. Both are readily accessible on the BVRLA website. We are urging all fleet professionals to explore the Index to see the situation in their region. Contact details are also provided to reach out to the LA directly; the BVRLA’s policy team can assist you with this.
Only by collaborating closely with local authorities across the UK can we shape a nationwide EV infrastructure that works for everyone.
