EV Charging: What to expect from 2022

06 Jan 2022
EV Charging: What to expect from 2022

2021 was a record year for the electric vehicle industry, and 2022 promises to be even better. But what milestones can we expect to hit as we enter the new year?

Growing charging infrastructure

Towards the end of last year, the number of public charging devices in the UK exceeded the 25,000 mark. According to Zap-Map, we can expect to see this number easily surpass 30,000 in the early months of 2022.

A large part of this increase will be a result of intensifying demand for ultra-rapid charging hubs. Last year, the ultra-rapid charging network expanded by 50%, and this trend will undoubtedly continue throughout 2022.

 

Greater shift towards EV purchasesnew vehicle registrations 2021

With a wider range of electric vehicles on the market than ever, and motorists beginning to realise the benefits of driving an EV, we anticipate 2022 will be the strongest year yet for EV purchases. Within the UK alone, in 2020 we saw close to 440,000 plug-in vehicles registered, with this figure topping 700,000 last year.

With such dramatic growth over the past two years, it’s not inconceivable to imagine that the number of registered plug-in vehicles could surpass 1 million in 2022.

 

Better customer experience

Encouraging drivers to make the switch to an EV will rely heavily on an all-encompassing positive customer experience, from both a driving, and charging perspective. When it comes to using a charge point, drivers have cited reliability and ease of use as the main priorities.

Over the next year we will likely see more charge point operators focus on improving the charging experience by offering easy-to-use mobile app payments and cross network payment solutions. The charging experience will also improve for drivers in line with the increased number of available charge points across the country.

 

The rise of electric fleets

Achieving net-zero goals will be a key focus for businesses this year and we can expect to see a huge surge in companies making the switch to an electric fleet.

Making this switch will not only benefit the environment, but the transition to an electric fleet will allow businesses to utilise modern fleet management software, resulting in long-term financial savings for companies.

 

Charging at home in 2022

With the latest government regulations announced on 22nd November, new homes built in England during 2022 will be required to install EV charging points. The same regulation applies for buildings such as supermarkets and workplaces. The new ruling should see up to 145,000 extra charge points installed across England each year in the run up to 2030, when the UK ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles comes into effect.

This regulation will prove crucial to ensuring the provision of the charging infrastructure necessary to match the uptake of electric vehicles throughout 2022.