As electric vehicles become more popular and more advanced, it appears that the infrastructure required to service them is not keeping pace. Reports in the UK suggest that as early as May next year EV charging pints will be switched off at peak times to avoid potential grid blackouts. 

Under regulations lodged with the World Trade Organisation, new chargers in the UK would be programmed to switch off from 8am to 11am and 4pm to 10pm. Owners will be able to override the preset times, to take account of shift work etc..  Authorities would also be able to impose a randomised delay of 30 minutes In areas of high demand to prevent grid spikes, although public chargers and rapid chargers on motorways and main roads would be will be exempt from the changes.

Forecasts suggest electric vehicles would add 18GW to UK power demand at peak times by 2050, according to the National Grid. That is the equivalent of six nuclear power station outputs.

Energy suppliers are however, confident that they can meet demand, through greater renewable energy and energy conservation, without these regulations being applied, but the UK government appears to want them in place as a fall back.