EVs at COP26 hampered by lack of charging points

Electric vehicles (EVs) at COP26 could be powered by external combustion generators due to a lack of available charging points, according to AFC Energy. 

The company has said that the UK has missed an opportunity to showcase our climate credentials to the global community. 

The UK is projected to have over 23 million EVs by 2030; amounting to the equivalent electricity usage of powering every UK household for two months. 

However, AFC has warned that insufficient investment in appropriate EV infrastructure could lead to power shortages across the grid and continue to exacerbate the UK’s reliance on polluting generators. 

Adam Bond, chief executive officer at AFC Energy, said: ‘With sufficient foresight, AFC Energy’s hydrogen fuel cell technology could have been adopted to charge the EVs transporting delegates at COP26, whilst also exhibiting British technology and innovation.

‘While the situation may appear to be a cause of embarrassment for the COP26 organisers, it simply reflects the global reality which is that far more investment and coordinated planning is required to ensure that we have the infrastructure in place to support the accelerating transition to EVs.’

In related news, the government has published the long-delayed Net-Zero Strategy, outlining how the UK will deliver on its commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Photo by Andrew Roberts