EV chargers are in short supply – and so too is drivers’ patience

Sir, – It is heartening to read your report that, for whatever reason, sales of EVs are now outstripping fossil-fuelled cars. However, my previous encouragement to others to go down this road is, unfortunately, waning.

On a recent five-day trip, out of seven chargers I tried to use, only three were working. Away from the motorway network, the availability of reasonably fast chargers is very poor or non-existent in more remote areas. Where previously there might be friendly banter at charger locations, and help figuring out how they work, exchanges are now tetchy as demand has increased and queues form (and layout arrangements don’t facilitate queuing at chargers).

City dwellers who want to move from fossil fuels are reasonably well served with both chargers and public transport, but those living in rural areas – and the tourists we encourage to go there – have neither reliable public transport nor decent EV charging infrastructure.

The Government needs to increase the distribution, number and power output of charging facilities across the country, and press the various operators to simplify and standardise the operation and payment methods of the units. And of course, demand that they are properly maintained and brought back online as rapidly as possible when failures occur. – Yours, etc,