Lack of models hampering EV uptake

Electric car uptake in Europe is being hampered by a lack of models to choose from rather than a lack of public charging points, energy companies and carmakers say.

Some motoring groups and insurers have warned the number of chargers is putting the switch to electric transport at risk. But an analysis by the Platform for Electromobility – whose 31 members include Tesla, Renault-Nissan, Brussels-based campaign group T&E and industrial groups Siemens and Alstom – found there are already enough points in Europe, The Guardian reports.

There are about six electric cars for each public charging point across the European Union, almost twice as many as the 10 cars per point recommended by the European commission.

Charging infrastructure is expected to keep pace with the number of EVs on the road until at least 2020, based on a review of governments’ plans. One fast charger is expected for every 40km of highway by 2020.

“It is a myth that has been spread by the car industry to create the impression they would love to sell more electric cars but there just isn’t the charging points out there. It’s a smokescreen,” one author of the study, Greg Archer, says.

Automakers have launched only a small number of fully electric models with 20 battery electric vehicles on sale in Europe against 417 conventional petrol and diesel ones, T&E says.

Some of the electric models are limited in supply and have waiting times of months.

“The key barriers we’re seeing is the range of vehicles on the market at the moment,” Energy Saving Trust transportation group director Andrew Benfield says.

That’s expected to change within the next two years.