EV charging is a shortened term for electric vehicle charging. Electric vehicle charging stations are relatively new due to electric vehicles not being mass produced as much as fuel-based vehicles. According to QZ.com, in 2019 electric cars accounted for only about 1% of new vehicle sales in the UK. However, electric vehicle stations were recently announced to have overtaken the amount of petrol stations across the UK. Data from Zap-Map shows that there are now 8,471 charging sites across the UK as opposed to 8,400 petrol stations. In fact, the number of petrol stations is decreasing.
How Does EV Charging Work?
Most level 2 EV charging stations can be used at no cost. However, others may charge a small fee depending on the provider and location. To charge your EV vehicle, you simply plug a charger into your car and the power is sent from the electric grid through to your vehicle. In other words, its basically substitute for filling up a car with petrol / diesel.
How it is Taking the World by Storm
According to yuenergy, approximately 29,000 charging points are needed across the UK by 2030 to meet future EV charging needs, and around 85% of these are fast or rapid chargers. Already, there are many apps such as zap-map and pod-point which finds locations for drivers to charge their vehicles. Not only this, global businesses such as Tesla are installing EV charging points outside their premises to generate additional revenue by selling electricity to their customers.
Advantages of EV Charging
There are many advantages to EV charging stations, especially for businesses. One advantage for businesses hosting an EV charging station is the idea your business is ‘future-proof’. The Government constantly lays pressure on businesses to make more environmentally friendly choices within production along with staff choices. The potentially could be tax and financial advantages to influencing a greener vehicle choice for staff and visitors. Not only this, if your business relies on footfall, the presence of an electric charging station will potentially contribute to more customers / visitors to your premises. The main advantage of EV charging stations is it is beneficial for the environment. There are no fossil fuels exchanged which results in no greenhouse gases dispersed into the atmosphere from standard car fuels such as petrol and diesel.
Disadvantages of EV Charging
Every cloud has a silver lining, especially with electric charging stations. One disadvantage of EV charging stations is (from a business perspective) the initial investment is very expensive, you are looking at around $2,300 for a single-port charging station, but this can be as high as $6,000, according to cleantechnica.com.
By Amy Leary, Marketing Manager at eBOM.com
