Furious Gran Blasts Electric Vehicle Owner for Excessive Charging

author: FutureCar Staff    

A grandmother has expressed her frustration on social media after an electric vehicle owner left their car plugged in at one of only two local charging points for over 17 hours. Elaine, a grandmother of five, shared a photo of the charging point with the car connected for 17 hours and 36 minutes, calling it an example of "charge rage." This incident highlights the increasing tension among electric vehicle owners over the limited availability of charging points in certain parts of the UK.

The lack of charging points has led to some electric vehicle owners having to wake up in the middle of the night to charge their cars. Experts predict that the issue will worsen as the demand for electric vehicles outpaces the supply of chargers. Elaine, frustrated with the situation in her village where there are only two charging points, took to social media to vent about what she calls "selfish" drivers who monopolize the charging points.

Charging an electric vehicle for 17 hours is excessive, as most cars can be fully charged at home within two to seven hours, depending on the charging speed. Public charging points can even power up a car in as little as 25 minutes. However, slower charging plugs may still take between six and 12 hours. Some service stations have started employing marshals to manage the queues and prevent conflicts between frustrated drivers.

Moto, the largest motorway service provider in Britain, has recruited marshals at three locations to manage electric vehicle queues and avoid public disorder incidents. The company's CEO, Ken McMeikan, who drives an electric vehicle himself, has warned the government about the problem and the potential for conflicts to escalate. Currently, there are 850,000 electric vehicles on UK roads, with an additional 530,000 plug-in hybrids. The government aims to install 300,000 charging points by 2030, but currently, there are only 48,000 public charging points in the country.

Drivers living near Thurrock services on the M25 have access to a significant number of charging points, but this is not the case in other areas. Some charging points are exclusively for Tesla cars, causing frustration among owners of other electric vehicles. The lack of infrastructure and uneven distribution of charging points has led some drivers to give up on electric cars and return to diesel vehicles. Arguments and disputes over charging points have become increasingly common, and there are concerns that these conflicts may turn violent in the future.

Motoring analyst Amanda Stretton emphasizes that the availability of charging infrastructure is a crucial factor in people's decisions to purchase electric vehicles. She points out that the UK needs to significantly improve its infrastructure and ensure an even distribution of charging points across the country. Currently, the infrastructure rollout is concentrated in certain areas, relying on commercial enterprises rather than a comprehensive network of charging points.

In conclusion, the lack of charging points and the uneven distribution of infrastructure have led to growing frustration and conflicts among electric vehicle owners in the UK. The government's target of installing 300,000 charging points by 2030 seems far from being achieved, with only 48,000 public charging points currently available. The need for a comprehensive and evenly distributed charging infrastructure is crucial to support the increasing number of electric vehicles on the roads.

FutureCar Staff