Sustainable Biz #8 - Magazine - Page 13
“The lack of standardised EV charging
signage is a clear example of policy
lagging behind progress. You can charge
almost anywhere now — at home,
where you shop, at restaurants, and on
the road, yet signage rules still reflect a
petrol-era mindset.”
problem is that the criteria are too rigid to
be workable. They exclude the vast majority
of high-quality charging sites — including
those next to well-known food outlets and
amenities. Signage should reflect real-world
usage, not red tape.”
There are now roughly 86,000 public
chargers nationwide, including more than
17,500 rated at 50 kW or above. Yet around
10% of those are located on major roads,
where visibility is most needed. Surveys
show lack of visible infrastructure remains
one of the top barriers to EV ownership,
alongside cost and “range anxiety.”
“The lack of standardised EV charging
signage is a clear example of policy lagging
behind progress,” said Tanya Sinclair, Chief
Executive of Electric Vehicles UK. “You can
charge almost anywhere now — at home,
where you shop, at restaurants, and on the
road, yet signage rules still reflect a petrolera mindset.”
With the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel
cars looming, clarity and convenience for
EV drivers have never been more critical.
Businesses investing heavily in charging
networks see poor visibility as a direct hit
to utilisation and public confidence.
“No driver plans a charge based on whether
a hub serves hot food,” said Ginny Buckley,
CEO of electrifying.com. “They plan
around speed, reliability and cost. This
ridiculous piece of legislation shows how
out of touch the government is with how
people actually drive electric cars.”
The DfT says it is reviewing feedback to
“refine its proposals,” but for now, the UK’s
clean-transport network remains hidden in
plain sight — and the road to net-zero just
a little longer.
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