Electric car owners are seven times more likely to have solar panels fitted to their homes, compared to the national average. 

It means nearly a third of EV drivers can potentially use the sun’s energy to charge their car, avoiding high energy prices. 

In addition, more than one in 10 EV drivers have a home battery to store surplus energy. 

These are some of the findings from the latest EV Charging Survey, conducted each year by the Zap-Map website.

Keen to go green

Zap-Map’s research suggests that electric vehicles can be a gateway to green technologies, although high initial costs may still be a barrier. 

Owning an electric car means drivers are 20 percent more likely to have a smart meter fitted at home. Almost three-quarters (72 percent) of EV owners have a way of tracking their energy usage, compared to a national average of 50 percent.

When it comes to the latest clean energy technology, seven percent of EV owners have a heat pump instead of a gas boiler. For comparison, only one percent of the wider population has a heat pump.

Upfront costs still a barrier

Additional research by renewable power supplier Good Energy finds that upfront costs prevent many people from embracing green tech. 

The price of installation was a barrier to 64 percent of people when considering a heat pump, while solar panel prices are a stumbling block for 54 percent.

Melanie Shufflebotham, COO of Zap-Map, said: “‘A gateway to clean energy’ is a great way of thinking about EVs. As soon as you change the energy you use to fuel your vehicle, you start thinking about the energy you use elsewhere in your life. Then you realise you can reduce your running costs with solar panels, too.

“That said, the upfront cost of the tech does highlight, once again, the gap between wealthier homeowners with off-street parking and those without a driveway, or who are just not as well off. Which is why we need more affordable on-street or local charging options.”

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A new survey reveals that electric car drivers want public charging points to offer better hospitality and retail facilities on-site. 

The research, undertaken by Deloitte as part of its Global Automotive Consumer Study, sought the opinions of 1,500 British consumers. 

More than one-fifth (21 percent) of those surveyed said they looked for dedicated EV charging sites with amenities when away from home.

Keeping caffeinated

The biggest priority for EV drivers while charging is access to coffee and other drinks. This was important for almost two-thirds (64 percent) of those surveyed. On a related note, toilet access mattered to 56 percent. 

Wi-fi connectivity was another noted factor, with more than half (55 percent) making this a consideration. 

Options for snacks and light meals were listed by 43 percent of respondents when choosing where to charge their electric car, with a lounge area useful for 42 percent. 

New dedicated EV charging hubs, such as Gridserve’s Electric Forecourts, have incorporated many of the conveniences noted in the survey. 

Jamie Hamilton, head of electric vehicles at Deloitte, said: “Traditional amenities such as coffees and bathroom access remain a priority for consumers. However, there is growing demand for other retail services that consumer businesses should consider trapping into as drivers wait for their vehicles to charge.”

Charging is leisure time

The Deloitte survey also offers insight into how long drivers will wait to charge their EV. 

More than a third (36 percent) of those surveyed said they would wait between 21 and 40 minutes to charge their car from empty to 80 percent battery capacity, while a quarter (25 percent) would wait between 41 minutes and an hour for the same charge. 

Andreas Scriven, head of leisure and hospitality at Deloitte, added: “Greater electric vehicle adoption has prompted a new market for hospitality services, with battery charging times also doubling as leisure time. 

“Those businesses that look to new charge point locations and create the venues and services that consumers are demanding will make the most of the opportunities posed by EV charge-time windows.”

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