[ Spotlight: EV charging ]
Baker MP, says: ‘We know there is a strong public appetite for EVs. We’re doing everything possible to make them a real option for motorists via the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).’ The Department of Transport also announced in January
2012 the Plug-In Van Grant 2012, in order to encourage the adoption of EVs for commercial use. Those wishing to buy a plug-in van will receive a 20 per cent grant of up to £8,000. Each van qualifying for the grant must emit less than 75g/km CO2
, be capable of at least 60 miles between
charges, and have a speed of at least 50mph. The number of electric vehicles in the UK currently stands
at just under 1,200 – a tiny proportion of the country’s 28.5m cars. However, while this figure may not seem particularly high, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has observed that EV registrations have grown from 167 in 2010 to 940 in 2011. This represents a significant increase in a relatively short period of time. Consumer confidence is crucial in securing greater take
up of EVs – and this includes having an adequate charging infrastructure. Introducing charging points on the scale outlined is no easy task, and Steve Bratt, ECA group chief executive officer, says: ‘For EVs to be truly successful, we must first make sure we have the correct infrastructure in place. This means having enough charging points throughout the country, all with a common installation standard, to ensure that they work properly.’
Strength in numbers The EV sector stands to give a number of different industries a much needed boost. In 2011, energy, electrotechnical and motoring associations joined forces alongside government to help deliver charging infrastructure that will support the different sectors and companies, and ensure customers can drive EVs with confidence. The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has come
together with the British Electrotechnical Allied Manufacturers Association (BEAMA), the Energy Retail Association (ERA) and the SMMT to form the UK Plug-in Vehicle Industry Forum, to work with OLEV. It will look at the support system required to manage a UK network of public charging infrastructure and the measures needed to provide EV drivers with convenience at an affordable rate. It will also specify how the back office functions for recharging infrastructure will operate, and provide recommendations on the most cost- effective way to ensure that recharging occurs off-peak. BEAMA’s chief executive officer, Howard Porter, says:
‘To ensure the appropriate level of private investment, it is essential that consumer confidence is gained in the new technologies for EVs. For this to occur, the appropriate standards need to be developed to provide interoperability between a national network of charging infrastructure which is safe and secure.’ The ECA is currently working closely with the UK Plug-in
Vehicle Industry Forum to achieve this. In addition, a Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation has recently been launched by government and industry experts, including the Technical Regulations team at the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), which for the first time provides detailed guidelines and checklists for the correct installation of charging points in all locations including
Number crunching
There are around 28.5m cars on the roads of Britain, driving 150bn miles a year, burning around 20m tonnes of oil and producing 70m tonnes of CO2
equates to 12 per cent of our total emissions.
n The average car in Britain travels around 20 miles a day, a distance that most modern EVs can sustain for almost a week without needing to charge. n Seventy per cent of car owners have access to off-street parking and therefore are able to charge at home, at night. n According to research carried out by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 1,052 electric vehicles were registered in the UK during 2011 for the government’s £5,000 Plug-In Car Grant, which was launched at the beginning of the year. The figure represents a 684 per cent increase on the previous year. n Charging an EV can take eight hours through a standard charging point, or half an hour for an 80 per cent charge via a fast charging station. n Fuel economy of EVs is usually expressed as kilowatt hours per 100 miles (kWh/100mi). A typical electric vehicle is capable of 32kWh/100mi in the city and 36kWh/100mi on the motorway. n Carbon accounting firm, Ecometrica, has calculated that, based on a range of electric cars that you can buy in the UK at the moment, the average emissions for an electric vehicle are 75gCO2
/km, when CO2 emissions at the power station are taken into account. , which
For electric vehicles to be truly successful, we must first make sure we have the correct infrastructure in place
Electric vehicle penetration is small but expected to grow quickly over the next few years
March 2012 ECA Today 53
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72