SSEN Equal Electric Vehicles Literature Review and Engagement Findings Prepared for SSEN Prepared by Impact 18th June 2021 Project No. 1150 Impact Research Ltd, 3 The Quintet, Churchfield Road, Walton On Thames, Surrey, KT12 2TZ. Registered in England No 7245397 VAT No 990 0342 31 Contents 1. Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................... 3 2. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 4 3. Moving towards an EV future ................................................................................................................................... 6 4. Understanding drivers with a mobility impairment or another vulnerability ........................................................ 10 5. Enablers for EV usage for drivers with a mobility impairment ............................................................................... 16 5.1 Charging at home ............................................................................................................................................ 17 5.2 Car journey length and range ......................................................................................................................... 17 5.3 Cost to Run ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 5.4 Additional benefits .......................................................................................................................................... 19 5.4 Support provided by organisations to transition to EV .................................................................................. 20 6. Barriers to EVs for drivers with a mobility impairment .......................................................................................... 22 6.1 Barrier 1: Availability and accessibility of charge points................................................................................. 23 6.2 Barrier 2: Cost ................................................................................................................................................. 28 6.3 Barrier 3: Psychological barriers like range anxiety ........................................................................................ 29 6.4 Barrier 4: Lack of information on accessible charging .................................................................................... 31 7. Innovative solutions to EV charging ........................................................................................................................ 33 7.1 Shorter term solutions .................................................................................................................................... 33 7.2 Advanced solutions ......................................................................................................................................... 37 7.2.1 Inductive charging ....................................................................................................................................... 37 7.2.2 Vehicle-to-grid charging .............................................................................................................................. 39 8. Whose responsibility is it to enact change? ............................................................................................................ 40 8.1 National government regulation..................................................................................................................... 40 8.2 The role of local government .......................................................................................................................... 41 8.3 The role of DNOs ............................................................................................................................................. 41 8.4 Other organisations with responsibility .......................................................................................................... 44 9. Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................................. 45 10. Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................................ 48 11. Appendix ................................................................................................................................................................. 51 11.1 Stakeholder Research Methodology ............................................................................................................... 51 11.2 List of Stakeholders ......................................................................................................................................... 53 11.3 Discussion Guide – Stakeholder focus group and in-depth interviews .......................................................... 54 11.4 Stimulus – Stakeholder focus group and in-depth interviews ........................................................................ 63 11.5 Discussion Guide – Customers with vulnerabilities in-depth interviews ........................................................ 67 11.6 Stimulus – Customers with vulnerabilities in-depth interviews ..................................................................... 75 Impact Research Ltd, 3 The Quintet, Churchfield Road, Walton-On-Thames, KT12 2TZ, UK 1 Registered in England No. 7245397 VAT No. 990 0342 31 Glossary Abbreviation Term EV Electric vehicle BEV Battery electric vehicle PHEV Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle Ofgem Office of Gas and Electricity Markets DNO Distribution Network Operator OLEV / OZEV Office for Low Emission Vehicles / Office for Zero Emission Vehicles ICE Internal Combustion Engine CCS Combined Charging System CHAdeMo “Charge de Move” (“Charge and Go”) PSR Priority Services Register V2G Vehicle to Grid UKCSI UK Customer Service Index CPO Charge Point Operator Impact Research Ltd, 3 The Quintet, Churchfield Road, Walton-On-Thames, KT12 2TZ, UK 2 Registered in England No. 7245397 VAT No. 990 0342 31 1. Executive Summary Central to the successful transition to electric vehicles (EVs) for energy companies is Ofgem’s principle that “no-one is left behind”. Understanding consumer vulnerability is crucial to ensuring all customers are able to access decarbonised transport and investment decisions are made to benefit all, not just the majority. EVs are becoming the transport method of choice for a growing number of domestic drivers, steered by government policy and consumer environmental sentiment. A key customer group with vulnerabilities in the context of driving EVs are drivers and passengers with mobility impairments. Although consideration must also be given to removing barriers for other customers who could be vulnerable in this circumstance such as drivers who are elderly, those in remote rural areas, and drivers who may have trouble understanding new technology (such as those who cannot speak functional English, drivers with learning difficulties and those who are digitally disengaged). Drivers with vulnerabilities face many of the same barriers as the wider driving population when making the switch to EVs including cost, range anxiety and access to charge points (especially for those without private off-street parking at home). Some barriers are more specific, especially for drivers or car passengers with a mobility- impairment who are particularly reliant on their cars. The key barriers identified for drivers and passengers with vulnerabilities are: • Lack of information on EVs and accessible charging: There is a shortage of easily available information to help encourage drivers with a mobility impairment to switch to an EV (especially for those that don’t use, or don’t qualify for help from Motability or similar companies). Digitally disengaged drivers are unlikely to be exposed to information about EVs and need particular consideration. Drivers are very unlikely to have seen disabled EV charge points and may assume EVs are not suitable for them. Low familiarity with how EVs work and where they can be charged mean many vulnerable drivers won’t even consider an EV. More prominent signage, public charging infrastructure, and availability of extended test drives are all needed to raise the profile of EVs amongst this group. • Availability and accessibility of charge points: There are few disabled parking spaces equipped with EV charge points, and charge points, connectors and cables are not easy to use for drivers with mobility problems. Public charge points are unlikely to have dropped kerbs, and may have impact-barriers around them making access difficult. Many mobility-impaired drivers have no off-street parking (or not enough space to park and access charger) and would need to rely on public charge points. • Cost: Driving can be more expensive for drivers with a mobility impairment, and the relatively high upfront cost of EVs is a barrier as well as the cost of modifications to enable driving, getting in and out of the car, or storing mobility equipment. There is little awareness of how much lower costs can be over the lifetime of the car / lease compared to ICE cars. • Psychological barriers like range