THE LATEST FACTS AND FIGURES FROM THE EV INDUSTRY EV IN-DEPTH:

EV RUNNING COSTS CHEAPER THAN CRITICS’ CLAIM

EV costs actually rose only marginally in the past three months despite claims to the contrary, a new survey has found.

According to EV charging firm Mina’s EV Report – Autumn 22, motorists who could charge at home saw real life costs rise by only 4p per kWh since the end of last summer to an average of 30p per kWh.

For those that need to charge in public though, the story was different, with an average price rise of 14p to 70p per kWh over the same period.

Mina’s data across more than 60,000 charging events showed the average price of home electricity for EVs stayed level during September at 26p, then rose to 30p in October, and 31p in November.

“The claims that the cost of running an EV is now matching, or costs more, than petrol and diesel, is just not accurate when you look at how people really charge,” said Mina CEO Ashley Tate.

“Our data shows that home is by far the main source of electricity for most drivers, with 92% of all charging undertaken there.

“Home charging is still incredibly good value, and our data shows that there is scope for more savings because the 30p per kWh average suggests not enough drivers are accessing the much lower EV-specific or off-peak tariffs available.

“But even at the current 30p per kWh average, a 70 kWh capacity EV being charged fully at home in September would have cost, on average, £18.20. By late November it would have been £21.70. Assuming a 250-mile range, that’s an average increase of only 1.4p per mile.”

When the increasing efficiency of new electric cars is factored in, Mina has found that the average real-life pence per mile cost across all journeys only went up 2p per mile during those three months.

“Even with the on-set of winter affecting battery efficiency and the electricity price rises, the increasing number of new, more efficient cars and drivers getting smarter about how they use and charge them has seen real-life, onthe-road costs rise only marginally. It doesn’t play to the vocal number of EV critics, but this is the reality,” Tate added.

One issue that still hits drivers though is the Advisory Electricity Rate for business mileage reimbursement. Mina’s analysis found that despite the rise to 8p per mile in the autumn, 80% of all journeys charged at home (and 100% of public charging) still cost more, meaning business drivers would be out of pocket using today’s rate. When compared to the previous 5ppm AER figure, a staggering 96% of charges at home, and 100% in public, were over this rate.

Mina’s data also allows it to see behavioural trends, and in the vast majority of cases public charging is being used as a top up rather than for a full charge. In that sector, prices have risen far quicker because unlike home electricity, which is capped, public charging energy is not so providers have no choice but to pass it on.

They have also been hit by increased business rates and all the other inflationary issues that companies face: rising maintenance costs, wages and interest rates. Added to which is that through the autumn and winter there is usually less cheap renewable energy available.

“Yes, there is a need for public charging, and costs have risen in that sector, but when you look at real- life examples rather than making theoretical assumptions, the vast majority of EV drivers aren’t doing full charges in public, which mitigates against the price rises,” Tate added.

KEY FINDINGS FROM THE MINA EV REPORT – AUTUMN 22:

The average cost of home charging was 30p per kWh, up 4p from the summer.

Public charging rose 14p, to 70p per kWh. 92% of all charging is undertaken at home. 80% of all journeys charged at home, and 100% of public plug-ins, cost more than the Government’s 8p per mile Advisory Electricity Rate. The peak plug-in time on the UK’s public network is between 7 and 8am on weekdays, and the second busiest time is between 11am and midday. There are more than 800 home electricity tariffs, making it confusing for drivers to pick the right one for them.

Government On Track To Hit Ev Charger Targets

The government is on track to reach its target of 300,000 public chargers for electric cars by 2030, a report by New AutoMotive has found.

On the Road to 2030, a new report by New AutoMotive, provides the first clear snapshot of the UK’s charging infrastructure network, but findings show that industry uncertainty over future demand for electric vehicles (EVs) was holding back growth in charger numbers.

It pinpointed the government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate as a key guarantee of EV supply, meaning future demand could be matched and ensuring the charging network grows quickly.

A major barrier identified by the report is a lack of clarity around future demand amongst industry stakeholders. The forthcoming ZEV mandate is the government’s most effective means of driving EV uptake by ensuring the supply of electric cars, providing industry with certainty around future demand, and thus ensuring that the UK’s public charging network continues to expand at pace.

Many of the barriers identified in the report have slowed charge point installations in recent months. In some cases, the report found reasons for optimism that these would cease to be a problem in the future. Other barriers explored by the report included:

REGULATORY CHANGES.

The report found that recent changes to regulation around installing and operating charge points had disrupted some charging infrastructure operators’ plans in the short term, but that this should cease to be a problem in 2023.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION COSTS.

A key barrier to installing additional infrastructure identified by the report has been the cost of upgrading local electricity connections to accommodate higher usage. The report finds that a recent decision by Ofgem to reform charges for electrical grid connections should reduce a significant barrier to future new charge points being installed.

LAND ACCESS AND PLANNING PERMISSION.

Another barrier identified by the report is the difficulty in securing permission to lay new electrical cabling across land. The government recently consulted on reforming access rights to remove this barrier, and the report urges the government to proceed with this work in 2023.

Uk Charging Rollout On Track

The report has found that the UK’s infrastructure rollout is on course to meet key government targets. Based on current trends and available data, New AutoMotive project the public network will continue to grow in the lead up to 2030, delivering the government’s goal of 300,000 chargers.

Additionally, New AutoMotive has calculated that charging via the public network often offers significant running cost savings for electric car owners. Electric cars charged at 68.7p/kWh work out cheaper to run per mile than diesel and petrol cars, and around seven in ten public chargers are below this price point. The average cost of charging via Podpoint (47p/kWh), Chargeplace Scotland (30p/kWh), Ubitricty (42p/kWh), and BpPulse (52p/kWh), collectively the four largest public providers in the UK, all fall well below this figure, meaning they offer significant running cost savings to motorists.

Ciara Cook, Research & Policy Officer at New AutoMotive, commented: “Before they make the switch to an electric car, motorists need the confidence that they will be able to charge their cars when and where they need to. There have been a lot of concerns recently about the UK’s electric car charging infrastructure. This report represents the most comprehensive examination thus far carried out on the UK’s fledgling charging infrastructure industry. The findings are reassuring, especially given recent concerns around the rate of network growth.

“The network is not perfect – it is still a work in progress, and there are definitely still teething problems with both the existing infrastructure and the rollout of new infrastructure. However, the rollout is progressing at an adequate pace, growing by a third every 12 months, and the UK is on track to meet the government’s target of 300,000 public chargers by 2030.”

“The government can speed up the rate of the network’s growth by addressing the barriers identified in this report. The most crucial barrier the government can help industry overcome is uncertainty about future demand for public charging services. The forthcoming ZEV mandate is the most powerful tool at the government’s disposal as it seeks to overcome these barriers; it will ensure the supply of EVs in the UK meets demand, resulting in more electric cars on the road, and providing the charging infrastructure industry the security and certainty it requires to continue to grow at pace.”

High-performance and luxury car specialist Clive Sutton has brought the first GMC Hummer EV Pickup to the UK, and we’ve got an exclusive first look at this fully electric, 1,000hp beast!

The electric vehicle market, and indeed the EV conversion industry, has seen some classic gas-guzzling machines transformed into fully-electric, zero-emission alternatives. And whilst many hardline petrolheads will claim that ripping out the engine of their much-loved classic cars and replacing them with electric motors is nothing short of sacrilege, the end result is usually a tasteful reimagining of an iconic motor, which has been given a new lease of life in this new age of electrification.

Although the majority of EV conversions are delicate reimagining’s of beautiful antiques, the electric Hummer from London-based retailer Clive Sutton is about as delicate as a chokeslam from a WWE Superstar.

The all-new, high performance GMC Hummer EV Pickup has touched down in the UK, and it signals a new era for the electric vehicle market. This could finally be the EV that turns the head of even the most ardent EV-despiser.

Clive Sutton, Founder and CEO, commented on the arrival of the Hummer in November last year. He said: “As soon as the GMC Hummer EV was announced our customers have been desperate to see the model in the UK!

“Now that we have imported the first one, we anticipate orders outstripping supply as buyers clamour to be among the first in Europe to own this electric supertruck.”

Nothing But Size

Electric vehicles are slowly creeping up in size, with a bourgeoning SUV market and off-road brands like Rivian also getting in on the act with their battery-powered pick-ups. In many ways then, it is the perfect time for the Hummer EV.

If you thought the Rivian was big, then this thing will blow you away. Measuring 2.0 meters high, 2.34m wide, and more than 5.5m long, the Hummer also offers up to 16” ground clearance, depending on the spec.

It is available as a traditional pickup and also as an SUV, with an Extract mode offering additional benefits such as an air suspension that works to optimise aerodynamics by lowering the car at motorway speeds. Specially engineered 35” Goodyear Wrangler Territory tires are suitably large, for an optimal balance of on- and off-road performance. As EV Powered’s Managing Director Richard Alvin states in our exclusive first look at the Hummer EV, this thing is going to be fun in car parks, but it will be most at home off-road, thanks to its ‘extreme off-road capabilities’, according to GMC.

Watch our exclusive first look at the Hummer EV on the EV Powered YouTube channel

Standard independent front and rear suspensions will enable off-pavement handling and highway comfort, while front e-lockers and virtual rear lockers will optimize traction for the harshest of terrains. Heavy-duty ball-spine half shafts will help maximise articulation and reduce unwanted steering feedback during hard cornering and off-roading.

It is also protected with full underbody armour, rock sliders and the optional ‘Ultravision’ system, which utilises 18 cameras to provide every possible viewpoint, enabling accurate navigation around obstacles or in tight spaces. Four-wheel steer also helps the Hummer EV reduce its turning radius, with GMC claiming “nimble maneuverability similar to a compact sedan.”

In terms of design, the GMC Hummer EV stays as close to the core DNA of Hummer as possible, with a few tweaks here and there to welcome its new era of electrification. Both the SUV and pickup versions feature a headlight display which showcase unique animations as you approach or depart and whilst charging, too.

The pickups Multi-Pro tailgate helps improve accessing, loading and unloading from the spacious cargo bed. This is replaced by Power Rear Drop Glass with transparent sky panels on the SUV version.

POWER, POWER AND MORE POWER

The fully-electric truck pairs more than 350 miles of zero-emission range and with 1,000hp and 1,200lb-ft torque delivered by three electric motors (two for each rear wheel and one shared across the front axle) the electric Hummer can hit 60mph in just 3.3 seconds.

The performance package differs slightly depending on the spec, with the SUV offering slightly less horsepower than the pickup variant, with just 830hp, but both models will offer up to 11,5000 lb to feet of available torque. The SUV option will also have a decreased range of 300 miles, with the pickup offering the full 350 miles.

The electric drivetrain is powered by GMC’s new ‘Ultium’ battery pack, which will be able to support 350kW DC fast-charging, meaning you will be able to recoup around 100 miles of range in just ten minutes.

Inside The Hummer Ev

The interior of the Hummer EV is dominated by a 12.3” diagonal colour Driver Information Centre display and the centre mounted 13.4” diagonal colour touch-screen position customizable data, settings and controls within the drivers reach.

Two trims are available – Lunar Shadow and Lunar Hoirzon – which give the interior of this car an appropriately cool appearance, with either bronze or light grey accents offsetting the otherwise jet-black seats and furnishings.

All-weather flooring is combined with a cargo area that includes rear flat folding seats, with other handy touches such as a 110-volt power outlet, cargo tie-downs and a large storage compartment on the driver side rear quarter panel. A Bose 14-speaker audio system featuring Centerpoint with the Electric Vehicle Sound Enhancement (EVSE) is also included on both specs “to create a multisensory experience” for the Hummer EV cabin.

For a car that is all about size, there is a surprising lack of legroom in the back, although headroom shouldn’t be an issue as you can take the roof off if need (and if the weather in the UK permits). The ‘sky panels’, also known as the roof, can be stowed either in the back or the ‘power eTrunk’ up front.