Warning over electric car power demands

ELECTRIC cars are expected to see the demand for power increase by 30 per cent – the equivalent of more than five Hinkley Point C nuclear plants, the National Grid has warned.

By 2050, electric vehicles could make up more than 90 per cent of all car sales, creating an additional peak demand of up to 18 gigawatts (GW) – equivalent to more than five Hinkley Point C nuclear plants, or 30 per cent above current peak demand, its annual report has revealed.

This high demand would result if consumers charge their vehicles during peak hours, ignoring electricity tariffs that are cheaper to use during off-peak times.

There could be as many as nine million electric vehicles on UK roads by 2030, pushing up peak demand for power, National Grid said. But it said use of shared driverless cars that are charged centrally during off-peak times could reduce demand.