Are we nearly there yet?, a collaboration between Cenex and Vauxhall, explored Better metrics of progress to deliver public EV infrastructure (EVI). Existing metrics, such as the number of public chargepoints, often do not capture the specific needs of EV drivers. To address this, the project introduced three new metrics: Near Home Charging, Journey Charging, and Destination Charging. These metrics aim to provide a more relevant, actionable, scalable and measurable framework for tracking the deployment of EVI.

The UK’s EV journey necessitates a strong and precise framework to ensure that charging infrastructure meets drivers’ needs and promotes EV adoption. Current metrics are inadequate as they do not appropriately address the balance between supply and demand, the distribution of charging locations, and specific use cases. The goal was to develop metrics that accommodate the diverse requirements of near home, journey, and destination charging scenarios while providing actionable insights for policymakers, businesses and local authorities.

Cenex conducted desk-based research, a national online survey and interviews with industry experts to identify gaps in current metrics. The initial research helped develop key characteristics of a good metric – defined as relevant, measurable, scalable and actionable. Utilising our NEVIS service and partner datasets, Cenex developed and validated three innovative metrics:

1. Near Home Charging Index – measures the balance of supply and demand for residential charging, with a focus on accessibility for households that do not have off-street parking.
2. Journey Charging Index – evaluates the availability of high-power charging stations along key routes, similar to the role of modern petrol stations.
3. Destination Charging Ratio – proposes a rule-of-thumb for charging availability at leisure sites, workplaces, and other public destinations, based on visitor demand and usage patterns.