'Nobody will accept a smaller battery without a viable infrastructure' - Dr Andy Palmer

Image: Aston Martin Lagonda LTD.

Dr Andy Palmer believes that before making electric vehicles affordable by using smaller batteries, the UK needs a reliable charging network to cope with increasing demand.

The former COO of Nissan, who led the development of the Leaf, warns that governments need to take action to provide a widespread fast and slow charging network if more electric vehicles are set to be registered by the end of the decade. “Rather than think about a 60kW/h battery, we really need to think about 25-30kW/h batteries,” said Dr Palmer. “Because the battery represents about 40% of the cost of the vehicle. But nobody will accept a smaller battery – and therefore less range – without a viable charging infrastructure.”

Currently, the UK has a target of banning the sales of new pure-combustion engine cars by 2030 and to only sell pure-electric vehicles by 2035, with a possible exception of e-fuel. One of the largest problems raised by Dr Palmer was the lack of availability chargers at homes and in public places if the government intends to meet those targets.

“The key is making sure you have access to ubiquitous access to fast and slow charging; on all new-builds, car parks, and on street,” added Dr Palmer. “And you can’t just have fast chargers, you also need to have reliable fast chargers. So, both local and national government have a role to play there.”

The average cost to install a home charging point is around £1,000. Dr Palmer warns that if the government don’t act on pushing a viable infrastructure, the country will struggle to adopt a majority EV future.