MPs argue that charging fees for electric cars must be reasonable
It is far less expensive to charge an electric cars at home than it is to use public charging stations. According to the Transportation Select Committee, this could place a strain on those who are less able to afford it. The government should also make charging infrastructure more accessible and reliable, as well as ensuring that residents in rural regions have equal access, according to the MPs.
By 2030, the UK intends to restrict the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, as well as hybrids. That means that by 2050, the majority of cars on the road will be electric, hydrogen fuel cell-powered, or use some other non-fossil fuel technology.
However, there is currently a price difference between charging a car at home and public charging, which is more expensive. The Transportation Committee stated that consumers must be safeguarded from unreasonable fees. The MPs also suggested that property developers be forced to provide public charging points, and that local governments ensure that charging infrastructure is created.
Charging electric cars should be simple, quick, and economical, and drivers should not be penalized because of where they live or how they charge their cars, said Huw Merriman, chair of the group. Drivers who reside in rural or distant regions, or who do not have access to off-street parking, “risk being left behind,” according to the committee.
Industry must utilize pricing to alter customer charging behavior to a small but often’ strategy and at times when the National Grid can supply entire demand, according to the committee.
National Grid’s head of future markets, Graeme Cooper, said the company was working with government to map out where vital grid capacity is needed to facilitate the faster roll out of charging points. There will be an increase in energy demand, so we need to make sure we’re future-proofing, putting the right cables in the right places to meet future need.
National Grid, he said, would have to increase capacity to help the UK meet its net zero ambitions, both by getting it smarter and by adding more existing infrastructure.
It’s never easy to prepare for a revolution, but with the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars set to halt in 2030, that’s exactly what’s in store. MPs have raised a number of issues, including the fact that those who don’t have accessibility to off-street parking or who live in rural regions may struggle to charge electric cars and may be forced to pay more for the electricity they consume.
