Global sales of electric cars raced forward in 2020, rising by 43% to a total of 3.2m, despite overall car sales slumping during the pandemic. This is a trend that has continued into now and the future, as the focus on sustainability grows.
As of October 2021, there are over 345,000 pure-electric cars on UK roads and more than 675,000 plug-in models if including plug-in hybrids.
Car parking structures for electric cars
The past few years have also seen a dramatic increase in the number of public EV charge points in the UK, with an increase of 220% between the end of 2016 and 2020. If the stiff upward trajectory of electric car purchases continues, this increase needs to match the number of cars and this needs to be accessible in a range of locations and not just suburban homes with driveways.
They need to be accessible in multi-level living buildings such as blocks of apartments, as well we in hotels, shopping centres and airport parking facilities. There is a clear need for space-efficient parking structures to accommodate charging points, and not in the distant future but now. It is only by building this infrastructure that we will be able to reach Net Zero by 2050 - the government’s key aim in terms of sustainability.
Automated car parking systems
The BLOX parking structure is an example of innovative parking solutions where electric charging points could be brought in. In BLOX, 30% more parking spaces were realised due to automated parking in comparison to a conventional car park.
By thinking outside the box and designing bespoke car parking systems that take into account the new and growing need for electric car charging, building designers and city planners can significantly reduce the impact cars have on the area’s carbon footprint.
Find out more
For more information about how to implement innovative car parking solutions, get in touch with Lödige for expert information and advice, and examples of systems designed to date.
