A long-term solution for the lack of EV charging facilities is desperately needed

FOR those living in cities, there remains one key obstacle to electric car ownership – where to charge them? According to the Government’s Go Ultra Low campaign, 90 per cent of EV charging takes place at home, so unless you’re one of the few lucky ones with a driveway or a garage and access to a plug, chances are that EV ownership just isn’t right for you – at least yet.

The public charging infrastructure is growing, but as Auto Express previously highlighted, it is struggling to keep up with electric vehicle uptake – the ratio of EVS to chargers has grown from 0.78 to 7.32 in the last four years, and is close to breaching the maximum 10 in one ratio for commercial success as set by the European Commission. With over 86,000 electric and plug-in vehicles on our roads, a widespread solution to charging has to come soon.

Interestingly, a tech start-up may have come up with a temporary answer. Chargie is a new website that allows homeowners to rent their driveway and charging sockets to EV drivers. Homeowners simply upload their details and set their recharging price. Electric car drivers in the area can then search for available driveways nearby for a charge. Chargie says a full charge should cost no more than £4. This is an ingenious fix, but only a temporary one.

What is needed is a long-term strategy. Shell, for example, recently announced plans to install chargers at some of its 1,000+ forecourts in the UK. But the ultimate responsibility lies with the Government. There should be greater public investment to increase the charging network.

“New website allows homeowners to rent their driveway and charging sockets”