- EV SUMMIT 2024 focuses on driving EV sales into the early mainstream through overcoming adoption barriers.
- Despite global EV growth, challenges like infrastructure reliability and pricing concerns persist.
- Industry leaders advocate for enhanced incentives and collaborative efforts to accelerate UK EV adoption.
The EV SUMMIT 2024 will focus on developing the early mainstream, and overcoming the barriers slowing EV adoption
The EV SUMMIT 2024 is just weeks away. On the 15-16th of July, the event will centre around one key theme; Driving EV sales – Charging into the early mainstream.
Despite significant global growth in EV sales, several barriers continue to hinder widespread adoption. The EV SUMMIT will take on these barriers and discuss how we can overcome each one to ensure a widespread and equitable transition.
The early mainstream is one step beyond the early adopters group. Early adopters are extremely interested and receptive to new ideas and technologies. For example, an early EV adopter was pre-ordering a Nissan Leaf back in 2010. Now, EV registrations have hit all-new highs. As of May 2024, there were 1,110,000 electric vehicles on the UK’s roads.
So, it’s safe to say that EV ownership isn’t exclusive to tech-savvy enthusiasts anymore. Now, EVs have begun to enter the public consciousness. When people look into buying a new car, electric is seen as another valid option by many, with over a third of UK drivers considering an EV for their next car. That’s where the early mainstream audience begins.
However, key barriers are still slowing the development of the early mainstream.
The UK is hurtling towards an EV future, yet the nation faces hurdles such as charging infrastructure reliability and price concerns. Addressing these issues through collaborative efforts between government and private sectors is essential. Strategies include expanding charging networks, ensuring pricing transparency, and incentivising the purchase of both new and used EVs.
Major industry leaders have called for increased EV incentives. With a general election coming on the 4th of July, it’s likely that a change of leadership will alter the country’s EV goals. Incentivising EV purchases and improving infrastructure would position the UK as a leader in EV adoption. This is a powerful position as the race for electrification intensifies globally.
Auto Trader, the Headline Partner of the EV SUMMIT 2024, outlines the difficulties facing the UK’s automotive transition in its ‘Road to 2035’ report. The report acknowledges the 66% year-on-year increase of EV sales in the UK. This is furthered by the developing second-hand EV market, for which Auto Trader is essential. However, the report doesn’t shy away from issues surrounding consumer confidence.
The Road to 2035 report recommends four key areas for boosting adoption.
Financial incentives, to make the initial purchase easier and more available to all. The California Air Resources Board has just introduced up to $14,000 in purchasing incentives for low-income households across the state. Could we see something similar in the UK?
Improved infrastructure to increase charging confidence, especially after Vauxhall reported a serious lack of accessible infrastructure in the UK. Initiatives like Electric Streets of Britain, and the increasing amount of businesses turning to charge point operation, are helping to develop the UK’s on-street charging infrastructure. But, what can we do to streamline the planning and development process? What regulations can we put in place to ensure the safety, reliability, and accessibility of charge points and hubs?
Increasing battery confidence, and overcoming the fear, uncertainty, and doubt that comes with adopting new technologies. This is largely an education piece which hinges on increasing the amount of accurate, accessible, and trustworthy information available to would-be adopters. The impending introduction of battery passports will help with the transparency and trustworthiness of new EVs.
Introducing soft incentives such as parking perks and free charging to encourage EV uptake. These smaller incentives are largely aimed at companies and charge point operators themselves. However, road tax exemptions and charging perks will fall under the government’s remit. Initiatives like Sainsbury’s Smart Charge including Nectar loyalty points on EV charging are a great example of how businesses can help this point.
Accelerating EV adoption is about supplying drivers with the tools to embrace new technology with confidence. The barriers to adoption can be overcome through strategic incentives, infrastructure investment, and collaborative policymaking. The EV SUMMIT 2024 will deep dive into all of these aspects that are slowing adoption, with some of the leading emobility and policy-making figures in the UK contributing towards a road-plan to success for the EV prospects of the nation.
Secure one of the final delegate passes to the EV SUMMIT 2024 today to join the discussion, and direct the UK towards net zero – https://www.evsummit.biz/delegate-pass
