Mark Sait, chief executive of SaveMoneyCutCarbon, recently warned that a potential surge in EV sales in the UK could lead to widespread power cuts, as the National Grid struggles to cope with demand.
But with EV sales already growing, ahead of the UK’s 2040 ban on petrol and diesel cars, are we ready to go green or is the UK still on the EV starting grid?
In a recent MailOnline article, Mr Sait claimed there might not be enough energy to power the switch to EVs, particularly if the technology generating the power is not upgraded.
“A rapid upsurge in hybrid and full electric vehicles could create real concerns,” he said.
The warning comes off the back of a series of power outages that struck various parts of the UK earlier this month, causing widespread disruption and travel chaos.
But concern about the UK’s readiness for the EV switchover isn’t new – in 2018 a report found the country ranked seventh-worst for the number of cars per charging point.
The take up of low-emission cars in the UK also lags behind other European nations, making up just 2.5% of new car sales compared to 49% in Norway and 6.7% in the Netherlands, according to Statista.
However, concerns over how the UK will power the future of motoring may yet prove premature, as the country continues to develop its renewable energy market and charging infrastructure.
In July 2019, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy revealed renewables accounted for a third of all UK energy production in 2018.
Meanwhile, in 2018 the Department for Transport announced its ‘Road to Zero’ strategy, which could see hundreds of thousands of new charging points installed across the UK.
And it’s not just central government paving the way – in 2019 Shell announced plans to roll out 150kW super chargers in selected filling stations, which can provide an 80% in just 10 minutes.
For more information on electric vehicles – and whether you should make the switch – check out our ultimate EV guide.
Copyright Press Association 2019. Motoring News articles do not reflect the RAC's views unless clearly stated.
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