[ Focus: EV infrastructure ] So what are the issues? There are many, but we’ll
start with market predictions for EVs, upon which the charging infrastructure will ultimately depend.
UK EV market predictions It is well over two years since the government introduced the plug-in car grant. Yet, even with subsidies of £5,000 per EV, as of 30 June 2013 a mere 4,553 claims had been made – and market projections are still rather low. Studies by leading expert on economically
sustainable solutions, Ricardo-AEA, indicate that EV penetration will be limited to one to two per cent by 2014, because of low production volumes and lack of charging infrastructure. By 2022, it is estimated that the total number of electric cars should be around 29,000, with electric vans at around 7,500 units. More positive assessments still see only about 200,000 plug-in EVs (PEVs) and hybrid EVs (HEVs) being sold each year by 2020, but other studies have said that EVs could account for about 10 per cent of all cars sold by then. So projections are uncertain, but WWF-UK says
that at least 1.7 million EVs will be needed by 2020, and 6.4 million by 2030, if the UK is to achieve its climate change targets. Most importantly for ECA Today readers, the
charging infrastructure is expanding, which is essential for facilitating growth in this market. A certain critical mass of installed infrastructures is one of the most important requirements to boost the market, which addresses a key issue of consumer concern about switching to EVs, enabling potential consumers to see the benefi ts of this technology more clearly.
EV types The vehicles we are concerned about here are electric cars and vans, light trucks and neighbourhood vehicles. Pure EVs use electric motors for drive instead of the internal combustion engine. The motors and controllers take power from large, on-board rechargeable battery packs. This type is the plug-in electric vehicle (PEV), as it can only be recharged by connecting to a charger. The other main type is the hybrid electric vehicle
(HEV). This uses electric motors with conventional petrol or diesel engines, plus a larger generator. Such vehicles can be driven either by the engine or by the motor(s), powered by the battery, which are charged by the engine. Braking regeneration helps keep batteries charged. Toyota’s Prius is perhaps the best- known example. Hybrids that can also be charged externally are called battery plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). HEVs are more energy effi cient than conventional
fossil-fuelled vehicles, but EVs are much more so, and CO2
emissions can be greatly reduced.
Charging and charging standards EV drivers want to charge their vehicles when it is
December 2013 ECA Today 33
The emerging market for electric vehicles is at a critical phase
convenient to them, but research has shown that most only use their conventional cars for a small typical daily mileage – well within the range of current EV batteries. So while consumers worry that they will run out of power whilst searching for a charging station, in fact they could just plug-in overnight at home, which will be suffi cient for most needs. This is the best time to charge, too, because grid consumption is far lower for much of the night, with lower tarrifs available. This is important, because it will have a bearing on the numbers and types of charger to install. While fast chargers located at charging stations, workplaces, retail outlets and so on will be essential, most will probably be simple plug-in installations at home – in the driveway or garage.
Charging modes For charging modes, note the following: Part-1 of IEC 62196 – This standard relates to plugs, socket-outlets,
connectors, inlets and cable assemblies for EVs. It uses the charging modes as defi ned in IEC61851-1: IEC 61851-1 – Mode 1 – slow charging from a household-type socket- outlet.
IEC 61851-1 – Mode 2 – slow charging from a household-type socket- outlet with an in-cable protection device.
IEC 61851-1 – Mode 3 – slow or fast charging using a specifi c EV socket- outlet with control and protection function installed. IEC 61851-1 – Mode – fast charging using an external charger.
Most EV charging points will probably not be fast-charge public types, but domestic outlets like Legrand’s IP66 protected Plexo 13A socket
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