A new study from Juniper Research has found that the lack of public infrastructure is severely limiting electric vehicle (EV) adoption in urban environments. 

In particular, as flat and apartment owners typically cannot have home chargers fitted, the lack of public infrastructure is acting as an active stumbling block to EV adoption within cities.

While global EV charging points in service will grow from 14.2-million in 2023, to 45-million in 2027, the research identified a significant gap between public and home charger adoption, with more than twice as many home chargers as public chargers being in service by 2027.

Partnerships to accelerate roll-outs in key areas, as well as improving the shared data on charging point distribution could, however, address the gap.

The study found that the existing initiatives from governments are not sufficient to accelerate EV adoption, with new innovation and business models within the EV charging sector needed.

“It is clear that regulator initiatives, such as requiring charging points to be added to new buildings, are insufficient by themselves to roll out charging infrastructure on a wide enough scale to drive environmental benefits,” says research co-author Nick Maynard.

“EV charging networks must work together with both city authorities and each other to identify how best to plug gaps in charging infrastructure, or EV adoption will continue to be limited.”

The fragmentation in charging networks also still limits EV adoption globally. 

The number of different charging rates, payment systems and access requirements is harming consumer enthusiasm, which is limiting growth of the overall space. 

EV charging networks must simplify networks and develop interoperability to make the ownership experience simpler, with regulator action needed to harmonise systems, says the Juniper Research study.