Is the UK Ready for EVs?
The modern PCO car hire driver is increasingly finding his or herself influenced by government incentives, and climate change concerns, to ditch diesel and petrol cars, in favour of choosing the electric vehicle – seemingly the long-term solution for us and the planet itself.
But experts are warning that the UK isn’t ready for such a quick shift from fuel to EVs, because the UK doesn’t have the levels of electricity needed to charge so many of them.
The chief executive of Save Money Cut Carbon, Mark Sait, recently mentioned his doubts in the Mail Online, stating “a rapid upsurge in hybrid and full electric vehicles could create real concerns” – in particular, the National Grid is in danger of being overrun, leading to power cuts nationwide.
EV sales are rising steadily, in line with the 2040 ban on petrol and diesel car sales, and it was hoped that the UK would have the infrastructure in place to deal with the increased use of electricity. But Mark Sait’s warning follows from various power outages which occurred just this month, leading to travel chaos.
However, the UK is already working hard within the renewable energy market, so concerns for the national grid might be resolved over the next decade or two. Just last month, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy highlighted that renewables made up a third of all UK energy production in 2018.
As with any new changes in technology, the early stages are expected to be a bit rough, and there’s no reason why the rise of the electric vehicle would be any different. It’s certainly worth keeping yourself updated when, or if, you decide to purchase an EV. Stay tuned to Pace Hire for the latest news and developments as they happen.
