The Infrastructure Podcast: Episode 24

Guest: Asif Ghafoor, chief executive and founder, Be.EV

Building the EV revolution

In today's podcast we are talking about EVs – Electric Vehicles. Specifically, we are going to look at what has to happen to ensure that the process or refuelling an electric or hybrid vehicle is as painless as popping petrol or diesel into a conventional fuel tank. 

The conundrum of how and where to charge up the vast number of new EVs now flooding onto the UK’s streets is being wrestled with up and down the country. Not just by owners and potential owners, but also by the highway authorities and property managers who are increasingly under pressure to make more charging facilities available. 

So where are we now? `Well according to the latest government statistics in January 2023, there were 37,000 public electric vehicle charging devices installed in the UK.

Of these 19% were rated “rapid” devices or above while 57% were fast charging devices. – whatever that means? 

In terms of charger location, 32% are on street while 49% are known as “destination” chargers – places to charge on arrival at a destination such as car parks. The mystery deepens!

What is clear is that there is an uneven geographical distribution of charging devices within the UK. While the UK average is 56 per 100,000 people – in London that number is 131. 

However, the number of charging stations is up 7% since last October. 

But, given that the UK government is banning the sale of new petrol and diesel engine vehicle in 2030, the question of course, is whether the roll out of charging stations – and of course the increased grid capacity required to sit behind those station – is fast enough?

To find out, and to guide us through the UK’s EV challenges, my guest today is Asif Ghafoor, chief executive, Be.EV, which, backed by Octopus Energy Generation, is currently working with communities around the Manchester region and across the UK to roll out new charging infrastructure.

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