Is there enough electricity for EVs?

The UK is one of the leading countries in Europe for uptake of EV ownership. At the end of June 2023, there were over 810,000 electric cars and 510,000 plug-in hybrids on UK roads. This is fantastic news from a sustainability perspective, but raises the question - is there enough electricity to charge EVs? 

In short, yes. Thanks to a rise in renewable energy, some smart planning from EV charger manufacturers and the evolving electricity grid, there’s plenty of electricity available to support the growth of EVs. Let’s delve into it. 

Can the grid cope with EVs? 

The UK electricity grid is designed to meet peaks in demand during busy periods, and has significant spare capacity in the system. Demand has actually decreased over the years, dropping 3.8% from 2022 to 2021 - additional power that can be utilised to support the growing needs of EV charging. 

The UK National Grid says, “Even if we all switched to EVs overnight, we believe demand would only increase by around 10%. So we’d still be using less power as a nation than we did in 2002 and this is well within the range of manageable load fluctuation”. 

The rise of renewable energy 

The increase of renewable energy from sources such as wind, solar and hydropower means that around 40% of electricity will come from renewable sources by 2030. The rise in renewable energy will help to support the increase of electricity required by more people transitioning to EVs. 

EV Smart Charging Regulations 

EV charging units sold in Great Britain must now meet the UK Government’s Smart Charge Point Regulations. These regulations require chargers to have functionality that allows charging to happen when there is less demand on the grid, or when renewable electricity is available. Chargers start or pause charging depending on demand, helping to mitigate surges in electricity use. EV owners can schedule charging when there is lower demand, such as overnight, which also takes advantage of cheaper electricity tariffs. A win-win for everyone!  

There are also third party apps, including National Grid’s WhenToPlugIn, that are making it even easier for EV owners to avoid peak charging times. The app lets users know when the cleanest electricity will be available over the next 48 hours, so you can plan energy intensive activities, such as charging your EV, to coincide with lower carbon intensive times in your local area.  

Find your EV charger 

So, there we have it. As more people transition to EVs, there is enough electricity to keep them all charged up. EVs are a sustainable choice as they produce less tail-pipe emissions than traditional cars, which considerably reduces air pollution. 

If you have an EV and are looking to have an EV charger installed at your home or business, Mr Charger are the UK electric vehicle charging specialists. With local teams based across the UK, we’re approved installers for leading EV charging brands, including Tesla, Zaptec and Ohme. 

Whether you already have an EV charger and need us to install it, or you’d like some advice about which is the best charger for you, get in touch.