Today, most people are familiar with the growing electric vehicle (EV) market. New charging points spring up around shopping centre carparks and outside homes practically overnight. In 2023, a 45% increase in charging points was reported in the UK. However, it seems there is less awareness of the complexities behind EV charging infrastructure, and how the lack of cohesion and collaboration between key industry stakeholders could put future EV market growth at risk.
EV’s accelerated growth
The future of electric vehicles (EVs) depends on a strong public charging infrastructure. One of the main hurdles to widespread adoption is ‘range anxiety’—the fear that an EV won’t have enough battery power to reach its destination, with limited charging stations along the way. This concern often stops people from choosing an EV, particularly for long-distance travel.
To convince vehicle buyers that there will be enough charging infrastructure to meet demand, it is predicted that around 3.5 million charging points need to be installed across Europe by 2030 according to the European Commission. That means we need to see approximately 410,000 public charging points installed per year, which is almost three times the latest annual installation rate.
Globally, the International Energy Agency forecasts that by 2025 there will be 6.7 million charging stations worldwide. And by 2030, we can expect a significant increase of 145 million EVs on our roads. However, few understand the complex world of EV connections going on behind the scenes, and the challenges that might cause some bumps in the road to worldwide EV adoption.
Alphabet soup
Navigating the complex landscape of stakeholders involved in connecting new EV infrastructure to the grid can feel like decoding a maze of acronyms or “alphabet soup”. There are Charge Point Operators (CPOs), Charge Network Operators (CNOs), Independent Connection Providers (ICPs), Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), and Independent Distribution Network Operators (IDNOs). To add to the confusion, CPO can also stand for Charge Point Owners, who are often the investors or financiers behind the project.
Beyond these key players, landowners and local authorities also play critical roles in bringing new Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCPs) from concept to installation. Together, this network of stakeholders makes the rollout of new charging infrastructure possible.