Policymakers and investors should pay more attention to better EV charging software and accessibility rather than the outdated range anxiety concern, according to a UK clean technology investor.

For Aidan McClean, ceo of BEV rental car provider UFODRIVE, the lack of regulation and standardisation regarding the EV charging experience is more damaging to the take-off of e-mobility than concerns over range.

“Arriving at a charger that’s behind a locked gate or out of order, or one that’s marked fast but it’s been downgraded to slow for some unknown reason, or occupied by a diesel hybrid, are all legitimate reasons to have concerns about the EV revolution. Whereas concerns solely about range, when range is often above 300 km, are often not valid,” he says.

According to the latest data from Zap-Map’s EV Charging Survey, 93% of the UK EV drivers use public chargepoints, with 40% using these devices at least once a week. The figures show that both deployment and usage of ultra-rapid devices are increasing across the country, but accessibility to these chargers remain questionable, McClean suggests.

Over 400 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers were installed in the country during Q1, from 22 different networks, Kallanish understands.

“With so many different networks and brands involved, and so many EV drivers regularly using public chargers outside their homes, accessibility is a key concern,” defends McClean. “It’s vital that EV users can see, access, and pay for all chargers on all networks.”

This illustrates the confusion EV drivers are facing on a daily basis, given the hundreds of different Charge Point Operators (CPOs), connector types, various payment methods and multiple charging apps.

“Welcome to the world of charging today – where companies compete with very few rules and next to no standardisation; the result is a Wild West of free-market inefficiency,” says McClean. “All the battery range and electric infrastructure in the world won’t matter if you can’t plan, pay, or access them."