Not for the first time, issues with electric vehicles (EVs) have been making headlines. From the safety risks that e-bikes cause to malfunctioning electric car apps, it’s fair to say that introducing these vehicles hasn’t always been a smooth ride.
Despite the potential to revolutionise transportation with eco-friendly, technologically advanced, quieter, and user-friendly options, it’s time to discover why the journey hasn’t been without its bumps.
Recent Upset at the Electric Industry
Alas, it’s been bad news for the EV industry recently.
A recent BBC report shed light on issues plaguing Nissan’s electric cars, particularly concerning the discontinuation of its app due to the UK’s 2G network shutdown. This affects around 3,000 Nissan Leaf and e-NV200 cars produced before 2016, leaving users frustrated with the lack of notice about the app’s shutdown, especially considering it was a key feature that initially drove popularity.
In addition, there’s growing concern among users regarding e-bikes, sparked by a recent government proposal to double the maximum legal power. While this could potentially make cycling more appealing and reduce reliance on cars, it also raises safety concerns, especially given the rise in e-bike and e-scooter fires in London in recent years.
In fact, there were more fires caused by e-bikes and e-scooters in London in 2023 than in any previous year, as per the BBC, and government plans would mean increasing the power of e-bikes from 250 watts to 500 watts, also meaning an increase in speed of up to 15.15mph. Is this really the way to keep cyclists safe on our roads?
Moreover, with the recent budget being announced, EV drivers are lobbying for VAT rate reductions on public charging. With many not being able to afford to have a charger at home, they must use public transport which currently attracts a steep VAT rate of 20%.
An open letter to Jeremy Hunt has just called for these rates to be slashed if the government are serious about promoting EV drivers, as per GB news. Currently, a third of drivers cite the cost of public EV charging as a key deterrence to owning an electric vehicle.
This issue, alongside others, has contributed to a recent slump in EV values, impacting companies like Hertz and leading to the collapse of UK EV provider Onto last September.
These challenges underscore the complexities facing the EV industry and the need for careful navigation to realise its full potential.
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What Are The Problems with Electric Vehicles?
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem there is a smooth journey ahead for the EV industry. Recent issues with EVs highlight some of the core challenges within the sector. Delve into the primary problems confronting the EV sector:
EV Apps
The recent problem with the Nissan app illustrates the risks of relying too heavily on technology to operate our devices. Despite the convenience apps offer, if they malfunction, they can leave expensive vehicles, worth thousands of pounds, essentially unusable. This can make for a frustrating user experience, even if these issues are temporary.
Safety Concerns
Recent worries regarding e-bikes extend beyond their speed and power to include the fires they can ignite.
Campaign group Electrical Safety First said: “Substandard e-bike batteries are already causing devastating fires across the country.”
As such, while the London Fire Brigade has said it supports the green transport industry, it has highlighted that these lithium battery fires are “London’s fastest growing fire trend.”
“The risk of more severe battery fires – because of these more powerful models – which the consultation does highlight, is a significant concern”, said Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, Charlie Pugsley, demonstrating the depth of concern over these vehicles.
EV Chargers
As mentioned, EV charging poses a significant challenge. Installing chargers at home can be expensive and space-invasive, while using public chargers can be expensive and pose accessibility issues, leaving EV users between a rock and a hard place.
Unfortunately, while many EV users hope to see an increase in cheaper and more accessible EV chargers, councils across the country are struggling to support this change in infrastructure. For instance, according to i newspaper, recent research suggests that one in three councils in Britain failed to develop plans for new public charge points.
As such, it looks like there is a long road ahead for EV users regarding dreams of cheap and accessible chargers.
Cost
While higher costs are understandable, the EV industry being relatively new after all, this still causes an issue for all those wishing to go electric.
Governments across the globe are hopeful for an uptick in EV use to reduce the negative environmental impact of transport, but how can this be done when prices are keeping EVs primarily accessible only to those who can afford such high rates? Until prices can be brought down, it’s likely the slump in EV use will continue to drag on.
Battery Degradation
Having touched on Lithium battery issues being a potential fire hazard, the degradation of these batteries is another big problem for EV users. Some find that lithium-ion batteries degrade over time, and not only does this mean having to replace these batteries at a high cost, but this means disposing of an increasing number of lithium batteries which are harmful to the environment.
