Chargemaster
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
FEATURE
can take six-to-eight hours, though ‘fast’ points, using single or three-phase 32 Amp supplies, can take three-to-four hours. ‘Rapid’ charging points provide direct current supply and can typically restore a battery to 80 per cent capacity in 30 minutes. Again, this necessitates locations or environments where drivers can feel comfortable leaving their vehicle to charge – such as public car parks, parking bays, supermarkets, shopping centres and so on.
Common types of public charging points include Elektrobays by Electromotive. These are tall, shoulder-high charging posts that are suitable for all compatible electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. They have a corded power lead that is compatible with most EVs.
Chargemaster also supplies a range of charging points, including fast charge and dual charging solutions, while hardware such as APT Technologies Evolt single and dual street charging posts and Eaton’s POw-
The government believes that increased
penetration of ultra-low emission vehicles is vital as it strives to meet its environmental goals
EV DOES IT
The UK government offers a range of incentives to encourage new car buyers to choose electric vehicles (EVs). The Plug- In Car Grant, which has been available since January 2011, offers new buyers a 25 per cent subsidy on new EVs, up to £5,000 per vehicle ( see
www.dft.gov.uk/ topics/sustainable/olev/plug-in-car-grant for eligibility requirements for the scheme). In addition, a Plug-In Van Grant scheme (see
www.dft.gov.uk/topics/sustainable/olev/ plug-in-van-grant) was introduced by the Department of Transport in January 2012 to boost the uptake of electric vans in the commercial sector, with a grant of 20 per cent of the price, up to a maximum of £8,000 per vehicle.
Additional incentives for EV owners include exemption from vehicle excise duty and company car tax, as well as enhanced capital allowances.
www.britishparking.co.uk
However, up to 31 March 2012, only 1,276 claims had been made through the Plug-in Car Grant scheme, with data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) data showing that 1,412 cars eligible for the grant were registered over the same period. Figures for the Plug-In Van Grant have yet to be released. The government believes that increased penetration of ultra-low emission vehicles is vital as it strives to meet its environmental goals. The UK government is committed under the Climate Change Act 2008 to reduce greenhouse gases by 80 per cent by 2050. Cars currently account for around some 12 per cent of all emissions, so a significant change will be required to meet these targets. Some estimates suggest 60 per cent of all miles driven in the UK will have to be electric-powered to meet these targets.
R-Station DC Quick Charger are among the variety of solutions available. You can expect to see a range of models in use across the UK, depending on operator and location.
Standard reassurance On a technical level, reliability and convenience of recharging infrastructure is also important to consumer confidence. The UK Plug-In Vehicle Industry Forum was established last year by a number of key energy, motoring and electrotechnical organisations and standards bodies – including the Energy Networks Association (ENA), the British Electrotechnical Allied Manufacturers Association (BEAMA), the Energy Retail Association (ERA) and Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) – to work with OLEV on ensuring an effective support system to manage a UK network of public charging infrastructure. The forum will develop appropriate standards for interoperability in a national network of charging points, aiming to create a safe, secure infrastructure that provides cost effective solutions for consumers, and increasing confidence in the EV proposition Transport minister Norman Baker MP has reiterated the government’s view that the EV option is attractive to the public, and the government’s commitment is to encouraging the adoption of ultra-low emission vehicles: ‘We know there is a public appetite out there for plug-in vehicles, and we are doing everything possible to make them a real option for both motorists and industry.’ Adding his voice to the debate is Charles Montlake, managing director of Use the Sun, installers of photovoltaic and electric car chargers. He believes that for an electric charging point to be of value to a motorist, it must be at a venue where people will be staying for more than two hours. He suggests that restaurants, hospitals and sports stadia could all be viable places for electric vehicle chargers to be positioned. While the EV market didn’t achieve the
take-off in 2011 hoped for by previous transport secretary Philip Hammond, the next couple of years could prove more interesting. With a growing commitment to rolling out public charging infrastructure, the increased choice and technological improvements of EVs, and falling costs of them as alternatives to conventional vehicles, Hammond may prove to have been only one or two years out.
JUNE 2012 27
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