Electric vehicle charging

Electric Vehicles now rival petrol cars in reliability and lifespan, says new research

A new study shows Electric Vehicles now rival petrol cars in reliability and lifespan.  

This is due to rapid advances in technology, according to researchers from The University of Birmingham, The London School of Economics and Political Science, The University of California San Diego and The University of Bern. 

The study

Almost 300 million UK MOT test records  from 2005-2022 were analysed by the team, allowing researchers to understand more about the longevity of different vehicles and  the lifespan of the vehicles main components (powertrains). 

They concluded modern EV models last 18.4 years and travel 124,000 miles on average, and that rapid advances in technology now allow EV’s to have comparable lifespans with petrol vehicles, even under more intensive use.

Co-author of the study, Robert Elliot, Professor of Economics at the University of Birmingham said:

“ BEV’s offer significant environmental benefits, as Europe switches to a more renewable energy mix… a long-lasting electric vehicle can quickly offset its carbon footprint, contributing to the fight against climate change, making them a more sustainable long-term option”.

Co-author Dr Viet Nguyen, at the London School of Economics commented:

“BEV’s are a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional vehicles – a significant step towards achieving a net-zero carbon future”. 

 

Reliable data to inspire policy change?

Professor Robert Elliot went on to say that as well as offering consumers reliable data to make an informed purchase, the research has an impact on policymakers too:

“Policymakers can use our insights to shape regulations and incentives that promote the adoption of durable and environmentally friendly vehicles, and plan ahead their end-of-life treatment”.

Want more?

You can explore the open access research “The closing longevity gap between battery electric vehicles and internal combustion vehicles in Great Britain”, here, in Nature Energy.

Man charging electric vehicle

Over 20,000 new charge points installed across the UK in 2024

New year, new car? Well, if you’re thinking of switching to an electric vehicle in 2025 and joining the other 1.36 million EV drivers on UK roads, the good news is that the number of public charge points across the UK has increased by 38% year on year.

Zapmap, who help EV drivers search for EV chargers, plan longer journeys and pay for charging. has just released its 2024 year-end report… and it’s official! It’s been a record-breaking year for EV Charging Infrastructure growth.

The total stands at 73,699 available charge points and by the end of 2024, over 2.5 million successful charging sessions were recorded monthly. This paints a positive picture about the reliability of EV charging infrastructure too.

 

woman charging electric vehicle at EV Charging station

 

 

Ultra-rapids lead the charge

Ultra-rapid charge points (150kW+) cater for EV drivers looking for a quick charge on longer journeys, and installations are booming! They’ve increased by 84% in 2024 (compared with the end of 2023) according to Zapmap’s data. Figures show around 7,000 ultra-rapid chargers are available, with over 14,000 chargers exceeding 50kW.

Hubs are on the rise

The number of hubs with six or more 50kW chargers has also risen from 264 in 2023 to 537 at the end of 2024. As we know only too well from our own hub installation work, the days of hubs being confined to Motorway Service Stations are long gone! Hubs are being rolled out in public car parks, retail parks, farm shops, garden centres, and a variety of other public locations. We’re excited to bring more hubs online in 2025, so watch this space!

Destination charging continues to grow

Convenience has always been king, and destination charging is still growing. That’s good news if you want to charge whilst shopping, going to the gym, or incorporating charging into your daily routine when you’re out and about. Over 12,000 new chargers have been added at these kinds of destinations in 2024, and more will be on the way this year. As we always say, it’s all about matching the right charger to the right location

and we’re pleased to be part of making this a reality.

On-street charging expands

On-street charging helps drivers without access to off-street parking, charge their electric vehicle at home. The quantity of available chargers has risen, but with 72% of on-street chargers concentrated in Greater London, the coverage of charging does remain uneven. We have experience in installing on-street charge points in the Boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Kingston, Merton, and in other locations around the country including Reading, Winchester and Portsmouth.

We’re hopeful that the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund (LEVI) will address the inequalities, as projects supporting by that funding begin to be installed this year. 2025 will hopefully be the year of achieving a more equitable distribution of charge points!

As Joju CEO, Joe Michaels, commented:

“Diversifying the EV Charging landscape and making EV Charging more equitable is certainly one of the biggest challenges the industry is facing. We’re hopeful that LEVI-funded projects reaching local areas will mean greater public access to charging infrastructure by the end of the year, and that PCPR Consumer regulations will also have an impact. Our focus is to help local authorities and other destinations install the right chargers in the right location, delivering the best possible EV Charging experience for EV drivers across the country.”

 

Woman charging EV in rural location

Loan charging second hand electric vehicle

Used EV sales rocket, and the latest on EV charging progress

There’s definitely a surge in positive news about Electric Vehicles right now. The rising demand for EVs has given a huge boost to the used car market in the second quarter of 2024. Plus, a new report shows significant progress in getting EV Chargers in the ground and online.

Let’s unpick these latest developments a little.

 

Used EV market reaches record highs

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is reporting that sales of used battery electric vehicles have risen by 52.6% year on year. With almost 46,800 transactions, this equates to a record quarterly market share of 2.4% – that’s up from the 1.7% share of last year.

EVs between 3-5 years old are selling the fastest, with a 138% sales increase year-on-year… and that’s not all. The predications are that by year end, electric car sales will have increased by 5% due to unprecedented demand.

 

What’s causing the increased EV uptake?

There are many reasons. EVs are cheaper to run, and the falling purchase cost of electric vehicles is a biggie! Technological advancements including improvements in battery power are making newer models more attractive, especially to early adopters of EVs. As they look to newer models, rapid drops in pricing of used electric vehicles attracts more people to the market. And, that 2030 deadline is looming, after all!

When it comes to pricing, the vehicle history check and valuation group HPI says the average price of a three-year-old used EV as 8.5% less than its fossil fuel counterpart. That makes it feel like a no-brainer to many.

According to HPI data, values of used EVs for cars at the same age and mileage point, have halved since September 2022, and you can discover more here.

 

Significant EV charging progress is underway

There’s good news if you’re looking for an EV Charge Point too! A report by net zero data consultancy Field Dynamics, Zapmap, and Ordnance Survey, highlights progress in installing EV charging infrastructure across Great Britain.

Average coverage across local authorities has increased from 17.2% in 2022 to 24.8% in 2024. The number of charger locations has also increased by 60%. In terms of geography, London is leading the way with 67% coverage of on-street households. That’s significantly higher than the national average of 20%. We’ve been installing on street charge points in the capital, and you can read more about it here.

Hammersmith & Fulham EV charger

Outside London, Brighton and Hove (83%), Coventry (76%), and Portsmouth (58%) are leading the charge.

Portsmouth bollard EV charger

 

Disparities in charge point coverage

The report shows that disparities do remain though, despite the progress, with 38 local authorities covering less than 10% of their on-street households. More needs to be done, of course, and we are primed and ready to help!

As our Head of Sales, Emma Blades, commented:

“It’s great to see such positive progress when it comes to the installation and operation of EV Charging Infrastructure. Installers, like ourselves, have been working hard to get more charge points in the ground, and online, alongside Charge Point Operators.

We should recognise though, that there are lots of reasons why it’s tricky for some local authorities to extend charge point coverage. It could be the challenge of rural locations, lack of allocated bays in densely-populated residential areas, the location of street furniture, and many other reasons why locations might not be suitable. Often it’s not for the want of trying, and logistical challenges make it difficult, but not impossible.

The government’s LEVI fund will help to make equity of charging more commonplace… and, when discussing the challenges and potential solutions with local authorities in our public sector knowledge sharing workshop, ‘EV Insights’, it’s clear that local authorities are committed to providing the necessary infrastructure. Solutions will be found, where possible, and we can be sure charge point numbers and locations will continue to grow for the benefit of all EV drivers”. 

Discover more

Get in touch to find out how we can help with On Street Charging

Find out about EV Charging in Hammersmith and Fulham 

Read more of our Case Studies

EV Charging on street red car

Record number of public EV charge points installed this year

The news is out… about 6,000 public charge points have been installed during the first three months of this year, with a quarter of them rapid chargers. That’s according to quarterly figures from our friends at Zapmap, published by the Department for Transport.

The numbers

By April 1st, 2024, there were just under 60,000 public chargers installed in the UK. That’s a 49% increase on this time last year, and since 2022 the number of public chargers of all speeds has doubled.

Our view

It’s good news for EV drivers all across the country. It’s also positive for people considering the switch to EV, with The Guardian reporting in their EV mythbusters series, that range anxiety is one of the main reasons stopping people switching. Their take is that in the UK (unlike the US), the problem is being addressed and the number of black spots is reducing rapidly. Joju Charging Account Manager, Rob Dickin, agrees…

“Joju is working extensively with our local authority partners to increase the number of chargers available for the public, bringing together public and private sector funding to make sure there are enough chargers available as people make the switch to EVs. The upcoming LEVI funding from the government means we’ll be working even more closely with local authorities to ensure there are chargers available for those without their own off-street parking, so they can access renewable, green energy for their cars.”

Joju has been continuing to install public EV Charging Infrastructure in the first three months of the year, and there’s a lot more to come as Head of Public Sector Sales, Emma Blades, comments:

“The coming months are looking really positive for the EV revolution! With rapid hub projects being finalised and LEVI charging projects due, chargepoint numbers are set to increase further and faster. These projects give a variety of charging speeds for different uses, whether that’s residents charging overnight, visitors charging at a particular destination for a few hours, or people wanting to get charged and on their way as soon as possible. As the availability and ease of charging increases, the EV switch will be more accessible for all and we’re excited to continue to help power people’s journeys”.  

Absolutely right! The Joju Charging team looks forward to bringing EV drivers many more public charge points in 2024 and beyond, in conjunction with councils across the UK and our CPO and funding partners.

And finally…

Check out Zapmap for the nearest EV charge point on your travels.