The United Kingdom has been slow to catch on to the electric car revolution. While countries like Norway have been leading the way in terms of electric car adoption, the UK has lagged behind. There are a number of reasons for this, but the biggest one is probably range anxiety—the fear that an electric car will run out of power before reaching its destination. However, with new advances in battery technology, this fear is beginning to dissipate, and more and more people are starting to consider electric cars as a viable option. So, is the UK really ready for electric cars? Let’s take a look at the evidence.
Infrastructure Improvements
One of the biggest barriers to electric car adoption has been the lack of infrastructure. Unlike petrol and diesel cars, electric cars need to be plugged in to recharge, which means that a network of charging stations needs to be in place before people will feel comfortable making the switch. Fortunately, this is starting to change. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of public charging stations across the UK. According to government figures, there were over 16,000 public charging points in 2017, compared to just 3,500 in 2013. This increase in infrastructure is crucial if electric cars are going to become mainstream.
Falling Prices
Another barrier to electric car adoption has been cost. Historically, electric cars have been much more expensive than their petrol or diesel counterparts. However, this is starting to change as well. Thanks to advancements in battery technology, manufacturing efficiencies, and government incentives, the price of electric cars is falling rapidly. In fact, it is estimated that by 2030, electric cars will be cheaper to buy and run than petrol or diesel cars. This fall in price is likely to result in a significant increase in demand for electric cars over the next decade.
Range Anxiety diminishing
As mentioned earlier, one of the main reasons why people have been reluctant to switch to electric cars is range anxiety—the fear that an electric car will run out of power before reaching its destination. However, this fear is beginning to dissipate as battery technology improves and ranges increase. The average range of an electric car has increased from around 100 miles in 2010 to over 200 miles in 2019. This increase in range means that people are now able to switch to an electric car without having to make major changes to their driving habits.
It’s clear that there are a number of factors working in favor of electric car adoption in the UK. From falling prices to improved infrastructure and longer ranges, there are plenty of reasons why now might be the time to switch from traditional petrol or diesel cars to an electric model. Of course, only time will tell whether or not the UK is truly ready for electric cars—but if current trends are anything to go by, it won’t be long until they’re ubiquitous on our roads.
