This Week in EV: Serious Electrons

This week we kick off with Tesla. I'm writing this before the robo event on the 10th October so it’s not about Elons latest efforts in AI and Robotics but instead on some impressive Supercharger revelations. Tesla recently revealed that its Supercharger network delivered 1.4 TWh of energy in Q3 2024, marking a 27% year-on-year growth. This translates into the equivalent of saving over 150 million gallons of gasoline and offsetting more than 3 billion pounds of CO2 emissions. Tesla also added 2,800 new Supercharger stalls, a 23% increase from last year, although deployment slowed due to internal challenges. Despite this, the Supercharger network's utilisation continues to rise, driven by increasing non-Tesla EVs using the infrastructure.

Staying with Tesla, GEICO has reportedly cancelled insurance policies for some Tesla Cybertruck owners ahead of the vehicle's release, raising concerns about coverage availability for the unique design of the Cybertruck. Getting insurance for EV’s has been difficult in the past and even now EV drivers are paying a premium but the Cybertruck is very different to any other EV. Cybertruck owners have shared experiences of GEICO dropping their policies after mentioning the Cybertruck, leading to speculation that insurance companies may be hesitant to cover the unconventional vehicle due to repair complexities or high costs but Geico have said they are offering cover on the Cybertruck

EV’s are continuing their growth in the UK. In September, UK EV sales hit a new monthly record, with 53,475 battery-electric vehicles sold. This was a 23.3% increase compared to September 2023, showcasing a significant shift towards EV adoption. Year-to-date sales now exceed 256,000 units, up from around 226,000 at the same time last year. While BEVs made up 20.8% of new car registrations for the month, the broader trend sees over 60% of new cars featuring some level of electrification.

More good news for UK EV with UK Power Networks having updated its technical guidance, allowing lamp posts to be used for electric vehicle charging, even in older installations with thinner cabling. This move paves the way for a large-scale rollout of 5kW charge points, enabling faster deployment across towns and cities where many households lack off-street parking. Local authorities can now expand charging options more efficiently, with Ubitricity estimating significant cost savings compared to traditional fast and rapid chargers.?

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