Pressure for more chargers with 1m EV cars to be sold next year in EU

A range of new electric car models will push EU sales to one million next year and pile on the pressure for more charging points.

Latest analysis by campaign group Transport and Environment (T&E) shows that up to one million battery electric and plug-in-hybrid vehicles (EVs) are expected to be sold next year in the EU.

The group advises that large numbers of EVs are being brought to market as manufacturers finally respond to laws on emissions.

The rise in EV sales will help to reinforce the EU’s position as the second largest electric car market after China and further stimulate the demand for EV charge points. In the UK, businesses can provide a service for clients, customers and staff while also opening a new revenue stream with destination charge points.

What’s driving this big leap in EV adoption?

Next year, EV sales will be 5% of total car sales – compared to 2% now – and about 10% by 2021, according to the T&E analysis.

The main driver identified by T&E is legislation. A 2009 law on CO2 targets for new cars put pressure on manufacturers, who have been slow to respond but have four main avenues to ensure compliance with the emissions target of 95 g/km:

• Improve CO2 efficiency of combustion engines
• Stop selling the highest-emitting cars
• Pool efforts with other EV manufacturers
• Boost EV sales.

The cost of the investments needed to meet the climate targets for cars is estimated to be about half of that incurred by the penalties for failing to comply.

Increase EV sales

The strategy for most car makers now seems to be to increase EV sales, with more affordable models after years of slow progress, as well as increasing engine efficiency.

T&E points to Toyota as the brand best placed to comply with the law, largely due to early investment in hybrid technology. Its non-rechargeable hybrids now account for 56% of sales in the EU.

Its analysis also identifies the Renault-Nissan alliance as next closest to compliance, with its efforts to promote sales the Nissan Leaf and the Renault Zoe EVs.

T&E says that transport is Europe’s biggest climate problem, representing more than a quarter (27%) of the bloc’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

It says:

“Cars emit 44% of transport emissions and are still rising due to the business decisions made by carmakers. If the EU is to achieve the Paris Agreement goals of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5ºC, car emissions must be zero by 2050 at the latest, meaning the last diesel or petrol car should be sold ideally by 2030, and by 2035 at the latest.”

T&E says that carmakers have delayed clean technology investment until the last moment, so are only halfway to achieving the 2021 CO2 target.

Julia Poliscanova, director of clean vehicles at T&E says:

“For years carmakers did nothing to reduce their emissions,” said “Now, thanks to the EU car CO2 law, they are finally preparing to start selling the more fuel efficient and electric cars the climate emergency demands.

“This means we are going to see good quality, affordable EVs in the next year or two, not ten, and that’s excellent news for consumers who’ll be saving lots of money at the pump.”

It added that promotion of inefficient, higher-emitting SUVs was largely to blame for the recent rise in CO2 emissions from new cars. SUV sales have grown from 7% in 2009 to 36% in 2018.

Destination charging

The growth of EVs is a revenue opportunity for many businesses.

SaveMoneyCutCarbon provide Destination Charging Solutions for a wide range of customers including many world leading hospitality brands and these can be grant-funded.

Destination charging enables businesses to:

• Generate revenue from chargers
• Attract new customers and increase dwell time
• Build brand loyalty and drive brand awareness
• Meet Corporate Social Responsibility objectives.