Motorists living in lower income areas face the most barriers to adopting electric vehicles, according to new analysis by the Open Road Partnership.
The most challenged areas, where wages are almost £11,000 lower than the least challenged, have more than three times as many drivers competing for public or workplace chargers, and the least access to off-street parking.
The Open Road Partnership, comprising Vertu Motors, United Rental Group, Zenith and Enterprise Mobility, has ranked 632 parliamentary constituencies across Great Britain against five factors affecting EV adoption: median wages, charging access, transport density, existing EV uptake and off-street parking.
The analysis found median wages of £32,400 in the 20 most-challenged constituencies, compared with £43,400 in the 20 least-challenged. Drivers in the former also face greater competition for public and workplace charging, with 1,014 potential users per charger compared with 288 in the least-challenged areas.
Access to off-street parking was another significant dividing line, with only 50% of households in the most-challenged constituencies having potential access, compared with 74% in the least-challenged. EVs accounted for 2.6% of vehicles in the most-challenged areas, against 4.9% in the least-challenged.
The partnership warned that the findings highlight a gap between the Government’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) Mandate targets and consumers’ ability to make the switch, calling for greater investment in accessible public charging, measures to improve EV affordability and sales targets that reflect market readiness.
Robert Forrester, Chief Executive of Vertu Motors, said: “The ZEV Mandate consultation is in danger of missing the wider point of the public’s readiness for making the switch to EV cars and vans. Drivers in communities at the bottom of this index are not unwilling to change; they are being asked to overcome barriers that are either out of their control, or unachievable in the timeframe.
“Forcing vehicles into the market cannot manufacture consumer demand. Unless the Government first addresses affordability and infrastructure, the mandate will punish manufacturers, retailers and motorists for conditions they cannot control.
“We need a realistic 2030 trajectory, regular reviews and a plan that allows every part of the country, not just the best-equipped postcodes, to make the switch.”
Ryan Johnson, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Enterprise Mobility UK and Ireland, said: “A durable and achievable transition must work for drivers, businesses, and fleets in every part of the country. That means aligning targets with real consumer demand while accelerating reliable charging, building a healthy used-EV market, expanding repair capacity and ensuring the grid is ready. Otherwise, the communities facing the greatest barriers risk being left behind in the transition.”
Richard Jones, Zenith CEO, added: "The research reveals a stark inequality at the heart of the UK's EV transition. For those with a driveway, running an EV can cost a fraction of the price of filling up a petrol or diesel car. But for those who rely on public charging, costs can be up to ten times higher, and in many cases are likely to exceed the cost of running an ICE vehicle.
"These findings are not an argument against electrification. They are a reminder that a full EV transition must be appealing and attractive to all segments of both new and used car buyers. The Government's consultation gives us a timely opportunity to align the targets with consumer’s real experiences and ensure no region or driver is left behind in the EV transition.”
The partnership said the Government’s ZEV Mandate consultation provided an opportunity to align targets with consumer demand and ensure that affordability and charging infrastructure did not leave some communities behind.
