The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will study whether the fast-growing EV charging sector has already helped drivers deal with “range anxiety”, or whether people still worry about not being able to find a charge point.
Previous research has shown that range anxiety is a key concern for many consumers, and switching to fully electric vehicles without addressing all of these issues could be problematic, reports Reuters.
The UK’s decision to ban all new gasoline and diesel vehicles in order to cut greenhouse gas emissions will be enforced starting with 2030.
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Right now, there are nearly 20,000 charging points in the UK, up from around 1,500 in 2011, the CMA said. However, that number will surely go up as more will be needed by 2030 seen as how people won’t be able to purchase any new internal combustion models.
“Being able to easily stop off at a petrol station is a standard part of a journey and consumers must trust that electric chargepoints will provide a similarly straight-forward service,” said CMA CEO Andrea Coscelli.
The CMA will look at how to develop a competitive sector while attracting private investors in order to help the sector grow, thus ensuring that drivers get the best service possible. They will also consider “how to ensure the sector works well for people now and in the future, which will help to build trust in the service and address any competition issues.”
The group’s study on the matter will be completed within a year.
