Majority of EV owners confident with long-distance journeys as range anxiety now impacts less than a quarter of drivers

- Almost one-third of drivers smart charge their EV at home, citing convenience, cost savings, and improvements to vehicle ranges
- The public charging network is also vital with almost four in five EV drivers utilising it
- While range anxiety is low, over half of drivers feel convenient locations lack public EV chargers

LONDON, UK – New research from ev.energy finds that, encouragingly, the majority of electric vehicle (EV) drivers (58%) are confident in planning long-distance trips. The survey also shows that over three-quarters of respondents (77%) have never, rarely or occasionally experienced concerns about their EV’s range.
This data comes as EV adoption shows no signs of slowing, despite the recent ICE ban delay. In fact, EY analysis indicates buying intent increased to 54% this year, rising from 49% in 2022. With more EVs on the road, smart charging options are vital to ensure a greener and cheaper experience both at home and on the go.

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Technology pushes home charging ahead, signalling a need for smart public infrastructure

More than a quarter of EV drivers are now opting solely for home charging (27%). Respondents cited themes such as the increased availability of home chargers, EVs now having better batteries for further range, and technologies that help drivers save money – such as smart home charging capabilities that automatically opt for not only the cheapest but the greenest charge.

While annual mileage in the UK only averages 5-10,000 per driver, public chargers are still vital for longer trips, with 73% of drivers saying they have utilised a rapid public charger and 67% of those having done so in the past 12 months. Public charger use rises to 92% for rural-based EV owners, yet 94% have access to a home charger. In suburban and urban areas, 94% will charge away from home when needed, despite 92% and 88% respectively having access to an at-home charger.

Despite range anxiety being reduced and high access to home charging, over half of EV drivers still don’t feel there are enough public EV chargers in convenient locations across the UK (52%). Only 6% said there are plenty of locations nearby. In fact, charging away from home is most likely to happen once every few months (38%). The survey highlighted many positive experiences with home charging, but this frequency of charging away from home suggests a need for accessible and convenient public charging infrastructure. The cost of public charging, availability, reliability, and location, as well as infrastructure complexity (networks, number of apps, and accounts), were all flagged as significant hurdles to using public charging facilities. This indicates a need to invest in public charging infrastructures that would provide EV drivers with an experience as frictionless as home smart charging.

William Goldsmith, Head of Grid and Data Services at ev.energy, said: “This data shows us EV drivers are confident in their at-home charging options. However, its vital to invest more in supporting the public charging infrastructure, and allowing for more affordable public charging. This will ensure drivers feel confident in making the switch from petrol to electric and allow those that don’t have access to a driveway to reap the cost and sustainability benefits of an EV.”

Cost and location the main challenges for public charging

Despite range anxiety being reduced and high access to home charging, over half of EV drivers still don’t feel there are enough public EV chargers in convenient locations across the UK (52%). Only 6% said there are plenty of locations nearby. However, charging cost is the main barrier stopping EV drivers from using public charging points (28%), with more charging stations in convenient locations being the second hurdle (26%).

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Methodology

These insights come from a survey of 1,430 EV drivers in the UK. The survey was conducted by ev.energy in August 2023.
The EV drivers surveyed were most likely to be male, 55 or older, married, and in full-time employment or retired, earning £40,001-60,000. They are split fairly equally between urban, suburban, and rural locations.

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About ev.energy

ev.energy is a Certified B Corporation® with a mission to make EV charging greener, cheaper, and smarter for utilities and their customers. Its end-to-end software platform wirelessly connects to a range of electric vehicles and chargers to intelligently manage EV charging while working with utilities to put cash back in customers' wallets for charging at grid-friendly times. With a global base of utility, vehicle OEM and EVSE partners, ev.energy manages more than 120,000 EVs on its platform each day. Learn more at https://ev.energy/business

Media Contact

Imagery and EV driver case studies available upon request
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