Electric car revolution at crisis point due to charging point shortage trends now
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A lack of charging points and expensive plug-in costs are holding back Britain's electric car revolution, motoring groups have warned.
In a stark message to ministers, they said more needs to be done to provide the infrastructure required for drivers to switch to greener vehicles in an affordable way.
The challenge was laid bare over Christmas when motorway charging points were overwhelmed and queues of Tesla cars built up as families travelled to visit relatives. And concerns are mounting that parts of the country are being left behind.
Government figures show nearly a third of charging points are in London, and Westminster has more than Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham combined.
There is one charger available for every mile on average in the capital compared to one every 16 miles in English counties, according to analysis from the County Councils Network (CCN). And while electric vehicle (EV) sales outstripped diesel sales last year, it is feared high prices and a lack of infrastructure will hamper further progress, particularly in towns and poorer areas.
Just 509 charging points were added to the network in December, or around 16 a day – far fewer than the 100 a day target.
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: 'At
