Limited motorway service station chargepoint availability and slow roll-out of on-street and rural electric car charging must be addressed if the UK is to meet its net zero commitment, the Competitions and Markets Authority has announced.
Calling chargepoint access a ‘postcode lottery’, the CMA has outlined a number of measures to address concerns with the chargepoint sector.
This includes a probe into long-term exclusive arrangements at motorway services.
The CMA has also noted worries about difficulties and frustrations with using and paying for chargepoints, which “risks reducing people’s confidence and trust”.
To address this, the government authority has stated charging “should be as simple as filling up with petrol or diesel”.
CMA chief executive Andrew Coscelli said the challenges facing the creation of an entirely new charging sector should not be underestimated.
“Some areas of the roll-out are going well and the UK’s network is growing – but it’s clear that other parts, like charging at motorway service stations and on-street, have much bigger hurdles to overcome.
“There needs to be action now to address the postcode lottery in electric vehicle charging.”
‘Easy and simple’
The CMA has issued four principles that it says will ensure charging will be as easy as filling up with petrol or diesel:
- Working chargepoints must be easy to find – e.g. live availability and working status
- Charging must be simple and quick to pay for – no need to sign up and wide contactless availability
- Cost of charging must be clear with standard pricing, such as per kWh
- Charging must be accessible with all chargepoints compatible with all EVs
A competition law investigation into long-term exclusive arrangements for motorway services has also been launched.
Currently, Ecotricity’s Electric Highway works with three motorway service operators: Moto, Roadchef and Extra. It provides four in five chargepoints at motorway service stations, in exclusive long-term agreements lasting 10-15 years.
The CMA “is concerned that these arrangements make it difficult for other operations to provide competing chargepoints at motorway service stations”.
Motorists risk “losing out on the benefits of competition, such as greater provision, more choice competitive prices and reliable, high-quality chargepoints”.
Electric Highway has consistently ranked one of the worst chargepoint providers in surveys of EV motorists.
Last month, the Ecotricity Electric Highway was sold to acclaimed startup EV network Gridserve.
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