Great Britain pulls the plug on e-mobility

The long queues at petrol stations have dramatically highlighted to many Britons their dependence on fossil fuels. Interest in electric vehicles has risen enormously at car dealerships and sales platforms. The trade association of the automotive industry in the UK reports a three- to fivefold increase in inquiries about electric vehicles at dealerships.

“The extent of the demand for electric cars is entirely unprecedented and a real testament to the fact that many people want to switch,” said Sepi Arani from the online comparison portal Carwow.

Electric Infrastructure Unable to Keep Up with the Shift to E-Mobility

Now, the UK has laid a stumbling block in the path of the switch to electric vehicles. As of May 2022, owners of electric cars will no longer be able to charge their vehicles at private charging stations during peak hours. From 8 to 11 AM and 4 to 10 PM, public charging stations or fast-charging stations must be used. Since these are mostly found on highways or expressways, this effectively means that charging the vehicle at home is usually not possible.

The UK fears that the increasing charging of electric vehicles significantly raises the risk of overloading the power grid. To prevent the impending blackout of the power supply, further interventions in the supply are also being considered. According to the English daily newspaper Times, there could even be so-called "randomised days." On randomly selected days, the power will be turned off for about half an hour to stabilize the overall grid.