A third of the nation’s fleets using, or considering the use of, electric vehicles lack onsite charging infrastructure.
No Onsite Chargers?
Research conducted as a part of this year’s Arval Mobility Observatory Barometer has revealed that a third of fleet operators lack onsite charging infrastructure for EVs. Some 33% of the surveyed businesses stated that they had no charge points, whilst 17% said that they had plans to install some within the next 12 months.
Some businesses are ahead of the curve, however. The research found that 29% of businesses have charging points that can be used for free. A further 5% had charging points that could be used for a fee. In addition, 27% of businesses subsidise their employees when it comes to the installation of home chargers. Another 16% make drivers pay for their own.
‘Commonplace’
Whilst the figures suggest that there’s some work to be done in terms of installing infrastructure, things may change quite quickly. Shaun Sadlier, head of Arval Mobility Observatory in the UK, said “within a relatively short space of time – perhaps 2-3 years – we expect this kind of provision to become commonplace”.
Sadlier also speculated on whether as many businesses would offer charging for free in the future. He explained, “it could be that providing free electricity to all EV users who wish to use their chargers actually becomes quite a considerable cost for some companies, especially those who have undertaken large-scale installations”.
Concerning whether businesses should pay for home chargers, he said “there are quite strong arguments for businesses adopting both approaches. Home charger installation is arguably a necessity for a driver who wants or is being told to adopt an EV but it is also a benefit. However, with charger installation costing in the region of £1,000, we believe that employers should probably bear the cost or make a substantial contribution – particularly for job EV need drivers – simply because that amount is likely to prove a potential barrier to adoption for many individuals”.
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