One Somerset park holds a thousand static caravans, however, has very less electric charging points. According to various holiday park owners, the government will not be able to cope with the rising number of electric vehicles. They said to the National Grid that a few more will be required, as many EV drivers are not able to recharge on the site.
Further, Alan House said, “The reality is it just won’t work on a holiday park.” Mr. House’s holiday park started in simpler times. His grandfather ran a dairy farm near Brean Sands, just south of Weston-super-Mare. In 1948 a local Scout group asked whether they could camp on his land, and Bert said yes. Seventy years later, Unity Resort hosts 1,000 static caravans, and 500 pitches for touring vans, camping fields, and luxury lodges.
There is a golf course, a theme park with rollercoasters, soft play for the kids, and works. And every caravan can hook up to electricity for lights, heating, and the gadgets of modern life. The major difference is electric cars are much hungrier. To install hundreds of charging points would be a massive job, Mr. House said.
Holiday park industry
“The whole park would have to be dug up, big new cables laid. “The supply to the site from the Grid would need to be quadrupled, if not more. “And holiday parks are in remote areas, at the end of the line. “That’s why people come. The grid couldn’t cope with it.” The holiday park industry is lobbying the government to take charge in remote areas seriously.
Martin Cox chairs the Holiday and Home Parks Association. His park is on the Dorset coast, near Bridport. He has six chargers for 500 vans and has been told that is his limit. “In our area, there just aren’t many places to charge an electric car. “So instead of enjoying themselves and visiting local attractions, they will be driving around trying to find a charger.” Mr. Cox compares the challenge of electric car chargers to the rural broadband battle. For years Dorset and Somerset were left out of high-speed broadband networks because the resident population was small. In the same way, there are fewer high-speed electric charging points in these remote areas. He said: “Government is going to have to invest in charging networks in our area.” They are making some progress. Dorset has recently received £1m funding from a government scheme aimed at improving electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
