Electric vehicles are hailed as the future of transport; however, in the UK, EV adoption isn’t happening fast enough to hit our net-zero targets by 2050.
Professor Rohit Bhagat, Director of Coventry University’s Research Centre for E-Mobility and Clean Growth (CECG), explains some of the challenges slowing EV adoption and how critical research is supporting the shift to low-carbon transport.
EV adoption is underway, but not at the speed we need
Out of the 42 million vehicles on UK roads, only 1.3 million are fully electric. Almost a fifth of new car registrations in 2024 were zero-emission vehicles, providing hope that EV adoption is on the rise.
However, given rising fuel costs, growing environmental awareness and public support for sustainability, many might have expected a faster switch.
While the UK has made progress, it is still lagging behind global leaders, such as China and the Scandinavian countries. Ambitious targets to phase out petrol and diesel cars by 2035 risk remaining as mere spoken words unless the government steps up with stronger incentives to encourage the public to make the transition.
What’s holding back uptake?
Range anxiety and access to charging remain key concerns, with many drivers uncertain about whether they can easily access a charger when needed, just like a petrol station.
Then there’s the recharge time – a quick fuel stop takes minutes, but charging an EV can take half an hour or more, since not all charging points offer fast speeds. Additionally, higher upfront costs continue to deter potential buyers.
We live in a society that moves at full speed, and with patience in short supply, long waits at charging points don’t fit into busy schedules. Although the UK now has more EV chargers than petrol stations, slow and inconvenient access is a continuous problem.
To bring us closer to EVs charging on the move, CECG’s Research Centre for Transport and Cities (FTC) is helping to develop technology that wirelessly charges electric vehicles as they pass over metal coils embedded in the road. Designed for buses, taxis, and delivery vans, this technology could enable vehicles to continue driving without lengthy charging stops, reducing emissions while reflecting the realities of urban transport, where every minute counts.
For many living in urban areas without driveways or garages, charging an EV at home can be a real difficulty. In Coventry, 47% of households lack off-street parking, which is why FTC is backing the Levelling Up Coventry’s EV Adoption Journey. As part of this, CECG is trialling a mobile charging unit that can be used at any location and developing tools to help city planners map where chargers are needed most.
Residual values
There is a good understanding of the second-hand values of conventional cars, allowing leasing and PCP to work effectively, based on years of understanding. As the battery represents up to 50% of the costs of an EV, the residual performance of the battery pack is directly linked to the residual value of the car.
Therefore, EVs typically have lower residual values as people need to be convinced that the battery will last. Additionally, insurance costs for EVs are higher because they are more likely to be written off in the event of an accident.
A mixed-technology approach
That said, we can’t narrow battery-powered EVs as the only option. Perhaps the greatest thing we’ve learned so far about technology is that what works today could be replaced tomorrow. Decarbonising transport at scale will require a mix of technologies, especially for freight, aviation and other high-demand sectors.
Every day, we keep an open mind and push the limits of what’s possible, because the journey to net zero won’t be solved by one single technology. The Clean Futures programme reflects this, as it funds and guides businesses in developing various types of green transport technologies. The programme is also exploring different energy pathways entirely – from trialling zero-emission electric freight vehicles across Europe to developing hydrogen propulsion for future aircraft with ZeroAvia.
Enticing EV adoption is what is needed now to move closer to our targets, but ultimately, the road to net zero isn’t about one technology winning out – it’s about building a transport system flexible enough to meet diverse needs, reducing emissions across all sectors and adapting quickly as new breakthroughs emerge.
