The CEO of car leasing firm Vanarama has dismissed the government’s planned investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure as ‘inadequate’, warning that a huge upturn in demand for EVs since the fuel crisis risks overwhelming capacity.

Vanarama CEO has dismissed the government’s planned investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure as ‘inadequate’.

Andy Alderson, founder and CEO of online leasing brand Vanarama, has seen orders for electric cars up more than 1,000% in 2021 and more than double since fuel shortages began in late September. The online leasing marketplace now processes an average of 55 pure-electric vehicle orders every day and expects to deliver more than 20,000 EVs to customers in the next calendar year.

But he says the huge surge in consumer demand for EVs is far outpacing the roll-out of public charge points, and that the £620 million investment announced this week as part of the Government’s Net Zero Strategy goes nowhere near far enough.

Speaking just weeks before world leaders gather in Glasgow for COP26, Alderson warns that a failure by Ministers to accelerate investment risks stalling the switch from internal combustion cars, putting the goal to end the sale of all petrol and diesel cars by 2030 at risk. This, he says, would be failing UK motorists, the UK automotive industry and the environment.

Alderson said: “The Government needs to act and act quickly if it is to remain on course for its Net Zero targets.
“We are seeing massive demand for electric vehicles and that demand is growing all the time. But if nothing is done to improve the availability of public charge points, we risk losing the momentum.”

He added: “Every car manufacturer has accelerated plans for electric vehicles and it’s imperative that the government follows suit.”

Matt Allen, CEO of Pivot Power, said: “The expansion of our battery storage portfolio is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to future-proofing the UK’s energy system and accelerating a net zero future. Through this collaboration with Wärtsilä and EDF we are creating more of the low carbon infrastructure needed to manage the integration of renewables into the grid and power our lives with clean energy.”