Aftermarket June 2022

R ising energy costs meant that EV users have been paying more to power their cars in recent months, but with vehicle range increasing year-on-year, the picture is still positive. The SMMT used its annual Test Day driving event, held at Millbrook Proving Ground near Bedford, to highlight the progress made on EV availability and range over the last 10 years, during which time a 15-fold increase in choice of model has unfolded, with many of these cars having more than three times the range of vehicles from a decade ago. 33 manufacturers demonstrated more than 100 models, including 42 plug-in electric vehicles. EVs on display averaged 257 miles on a single charge, more than treble the 74 mile average available at Test Day in 2011. SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: “The ever- increasing number of electric vehicle models launched by manufacturers since 2011 shows just how far Britain has come, with industry investment stimulating innovation at an ever-faster rate. With almost 200 electrified models expected to be available by the end of the year, manufacturers are turning ambitions for zero and ultra-low emission mobility into a reality, while motorists’ demand for these vehicles increases month by month.” “The government’s EV infrastructure strategy, published in March is crucial to keep EV momentum rolling, as Mike observed: “To turn this nascent demand into a mass market, however, motorists need choice, affordability and the confidence to charge. The UK has an ambitious timescale to deliver net zero and road transport must 60 AFTERMARKET JUNE 2022 TECHNICAL/EVS AND HYBRIDS www.aftermarketonline.net Increasing recharging costs have been giving EV owners headaches, but it is the need to keep staff trained up that will be an issue for garages going forward shoulder the biggest burden delivering that goal. The industry is up for the challenge but we need all stakeholders, including government, charge point providers and energy companies, to match manufacturers’ commitment by providing the competitive incentives and infrastructure that assures a zero-emission future.” At the time of the launch of Britain’s first mass-produced battery electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF, in 2011, just nine plug-in car models were available in the UK, aking up less than one in 1,000 total registrations. Today, there are more than 140 plug-in models available, accounting for around one in five new cars sold this year, with a further 50 models expected to be launched by the end of 2022. It’s all Greek to me: Survey unrolls EV range anxiety map of Europe EV drivers in Greece experience the highest level of range anxiety in western Europe, according to new research. The study by StressFreeCarRental.com used the frequency of EV chargers on the growing Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) plus the cost of running diesel and electric vehicles to make their comparison. The TEN-T is a planned network of roads, railways, airports and water infrastructure in the European Union. The core network has a completion target of 2030. Because Greece has no combined charging system (CCS) chargers on its segment of the TEN-T, drivers are more likely to be stranded if they run out of power. Drivers in Italy and Belgium also experience higher levels of range anxiety, due to higher electricity prices, as well as a EVER-INCREASING Above: Of the 100 models on show at the SMMT’s recent Test Day, 42 were plug-in electric vehicles