Electric car uptake threatens half of UK front gardens to make space for chargers and parking
Some drivers are considering ditching green space in favour of EV parking
PEXELS
Almost half (49 per cent) of all UK homeowners are considering paving over their front gardens to accommodate the space for an electric vehicle.
With the growing uptake of electric cars, motorists are already looking at ways of introducing the vehicles to their homes.
Many will also be considering creating a greater space not only for the vehicle but also if they are installing an EV charger on the outside of their home.
A new survey found that 13 per cent of motorists currently own or have owned an EV, with hotspots being found in London, the West Midlands and Wales.
More drivers are making the switch to an electric car
PA
Of those who own electric cars, a staggering seven in 10 people have already made changes to the front of their homes and gardens.
More than a fifth of those who have landscaped their houses have cut back on green space.
This comes as 28 per cent of UK homeowners are worried about the growth of EV charging at home and the impact it will have on their neighbourhoods.
A further 53 per cent of people said the trend of paving over their front gardens to create more space for parking needs to be addressed.
Charlie Jardine, CEO at EO Charging, highlighted the expansion of the London Ulez and how more drivers will be influenced to invest in an electric car to avoid daily emissions charges.
He said: "This means the desire for home charging facilities will grow, putting more pressure on front gardens and neighbourhood green spaces.
"But it’s also important to understand that there’s a balance between accommodating EV charging infrastructure and protecting the green spaces around our homes.
"With some careful planning, homeowners can maximise the cost and pollution benefits of switching to an EV whilst still preserving the value of driveways and gardens for themselves, their neighbourhoods and nature."
The number of Google searches for home electric vehicle chargers has grown massively over the past 12 months, indicating that more drivers are looking to make use of cheaper rates to charge their vehicles.
The latest data from Zap Map shows that drivers can make use of 45,737 public EV charging points around the country, across 26,805 different locations.
This represents a 40 per cent increase in the total number of chargers since July last year, although many suggests that progress is not happening quick enough.
It has been suggested that the UK will need around 300,000 electric car chargers to adapt to the increase in EVs around the country.
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A growing number of drivers are searching for home EV chargers
PEXELS
The UK Government has remained steadfast in its commitment to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, with all new vehicles sold after 2035 being zero emission.