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Current holder of the Business Car Best Fleet Software award, Engineius has a network of more than 600 self-employed drivers and transport agents who deliver vehicles throughout the whole of the UK, including the islands and highlands. These drivers have daily first-hand experience, so we asked their views on the UK EV (electric vehicle) charging infrastructure.
It is important to acknowledge that the experience of a driver delivering multiple vehicles daily differs from that of owning an EV. Owners of EVs are familiar with convenient charging stations along their regular routes, whereas the drivers interviewed may be venturing into unfamiliar locations. As such, searching for and charging at EV stations could present a new and varying experience each time.
From the 122 completed surveys, 101 drivers had previously driven an EV, but all Engineius drivers take an in-depth EV training module as knowledge, proficiency and understanding of these vehicles is essential for all of our network. The number of EVs movements compared to ICE vehicles has seen huge percentage increases since our launch in 2018, including a 246 % increase between 2021/22. At Engineius we don't transport EVs - we drive them. As one of the primary goals of electrification is to be kinder to the planet - delivering an EV on the back of a diesel truck would miss the point.
Despite the ongoing expansion of the EV charging infrastructure, our drivers and transport agents still believe it has a long way to go before matching the convenience of refuelling at traditional petrol stations. One of the initial challenges is the need for multiple charging accounts, with our drivers reporting they have up to seven EV charging apps on their phones to facilitate charging of different brands at various locations across the UK. This already makes using a variety of EV chargers admin-heavy, with 73% of drivers resorting to more than one app.
With so many different brands of EV charging points out there, we asked the drivers which they found the most reliable. As you would expect, personal experience varied from driver to driver. Out of the 12 brand options presented to the drivers, all received votes, but the clear winners for reliability were Gridserve (ecotricity), Tesla
and Instavolt.
Likewise, when asked which were the least reliable charging points, all 12 brands received some votes, with Geniepoint, Pod Point and BP Pulse highlighted as the worst.
In terms of geographical coverage, it is no surprise that London come top for the best EV charging point coverage, as it was chosen by nearly 60% of the drivers. Engineius' drivers regularly cover all regions of the UK and highlighted that in their experience, the West Midlands ranked second in charging accessibility. The East of England, the South West, and the North East were reported as the most challenging regions for charging facilities.
Although not all surveyed drivers had journeyed to Scotland and Wales, it is alarming to note that more than 50% of respondents identified these locations as the most difficult to find a recharging station.
More than 50% of drivers also stated that the main reason they stop at a motorway service station is to refuel or recharge, emphasising the importance of the number and efficiency of charging points at these locations. With 80% of drivers reporting that EV ranges are still inaccurate, whatever the weather, charging points along the motorway are essential.
So, once you have arrived at the charging point, will you have to queue? According to 63% of our drivers, you are likely to be required to wait up to an hour before you can charge your EV, with 15% stating that this can be a 1-2 hour wait. It would appear to be the luck of the draw, as far as queueing is concerned and is dependent on several factors, including how many working charging points are available, how cold it is outside, and how much longer the car already being charged will take.
Engineius' customers have minimum charges required on delivery of an EV, so we asked our drivers how long it realistically took them to charge the vehicle. It is important to acknowledge that this charging time can vary considerably based on several factors, including the charging speed of the specific vehicle and the capabilities of the charging point, as well as the desired charge level. However, 42% reported this taking 2 hours, 33% reported 1 hour, and shockingly, 7% reported it took 4 hours or more.
It is known and accepted that weather conditions affect the range of the EV, but in addition to these charging times, more than 80% of drivers agreed that when the outside temperature drops, charging takes longer too.
Is it telling that only 30% of Engineius drivers say they would consider buying an EV for their own personal use.
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