EV News: The Driver Update

As the electric vehicle (EV) industry evolves, we're highlighting the recent and relevant news stories that current and prospective EV drivers should know about.

Charging costs remain stable

With UK consumers currently facing high costs, running a car is proving to be expensive. Luckily for EV owners, the cost of charging is currently cheaper than a tank of fuel.  

In the first quarter of 2024, although the price of petrol increased by eight pence per litre, the cost to charge an EV remained stable. The average rate stayed at 74p per kilowatt-hour to use a rapid charger and between 52p and 60p per kilowatt-hour to use a low-powered charger, providing some much-needed stability for drivers. Read the full story from Auto Express here.

EV charge point numbers increase

If EVs are cheap to run, then are they convenient? One of the blockers to EV adoption has been the availability of chargers, but progress is being made. Although the UK is behind on EV charger targets, the number of public chargers of all speeds has doubled since the beginning of 2022.  

In the first three months of 2024, 6,000 new chargers were installed, with roughly 1,500 of these being rapid chargers, which are capable of charging a car in under an hour. By 1st April 2024 nearly 60,000 public chargers had been installed in the UK, a 49% increase compared to a year earlier. As a result, range anxiety is set to be a thing of the past.

Software developments promise quicker charging times

A fill-up at a fuel station is undoubtedly convenient for those with a petrol or diesel car, and charging time can be a deterrent for potential EV owners. However, software is being developed by Breathe Battery Technologies to cut charging times.

Volvo has become the first car manufacturer to work in partnership with Breathe Battery Technologies and expects the software to decrease the time taken to rapid charge its new-generation EVs from 10% to 80% by nearly a third. For current and future EV owners, this innovative software is set to make charging an EV even easier. Read the story from Auto Car here.

Affordable EVs to hit UK markets in 2025

With the average price of a new EV in the UK being roughly £48,000 compared to £26,000 for a new ICE vehicle, high costs can put drivers off making the switch. However, Stellantis, the owner of several brands including Vauxhall, Fiat, and Peugeot, is preparing to sell electric cars made by Leapmotor, its Chinese partner, which will cost less than £17,200 – a huge saving.  

Sales will begin in March 2025 and will include the C10 SUV and the T03, a small, five-door city car. These new Leapmotor models will mean many more UK consumers will be able to afford the switch to electric. Read the full story from The Guardian here.

Innovation in battery end-of-life

EV sceptics often bring up the issue of batteries and their end of life. Do batteries go to the scrapheap along with the vehicle? Thanks to innovation by companies like UK-based Ecobat, the answer is no. Ecobat is leading the way in EV battery recycling, working with car manufacturers to extend battery lifespans and repurpose them for second-life applications.  

They’re also developing direct recycling, a process that restores the positive electrode for manufacturing new batteries, which is particularly beneficial for those without high-value minerals like cobalt and nickel. Batteries with 65-80% of their original performance can be repurposed, while those with lower performance are recycled into new batteries.

This efficient use of resources significantly reduces tech pollution. In essence, an end-of-life EV battery could become a new one, underscoring the sustainability benefits of EVs and reducing the risk of battery pollution. Read the full story from Auto Express here.

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