BSEE EV CHARGING


Adversing: 01622 699116 Editorial: 01354 461430


ENGINEERING THE FUTURE Opportunities in the EV revolution


Electric vehicle (EV) adopon brings with it a real opportunity to showcase progressive and wellthought through soluons to match the growing need for charging. Chris Evans, Deputy Managing Director at Rolton Group, advises FMs and building managers how to carve out a compeve advantage for their businesses to create a sustainable, futureproof soluon.


sign of slowing. By 2050, it’s predicted that EVs will account for two-thirds of UK vehicles, and the Government’s ban of solely petrol and diesel car sales by 2040 means we may reach this figure even sooner.


E


Global environmental targets have been key drivers for EV uptake; the UK supports the Zero Emission Vehicle Alliance’s aims to make all passenger vehicles “zero-emissions” by 2050. To incentivise the uptake of EVs, there are also significant financial attractions for vehicle owners, including exemption from vehicle excise duty and reductions in London congestion charges, as well as government grants towards the purchase of vehicles and installation of charging points. As technology advances, battery innovation is reducing range anxiety, broadening the choice of personal and commercial vehicles and increasing the financial viability of EVs. In fact, EV batteries and internal combustion engine costs are set to reach commercial parity as early as 2020. Similarly, whole-life running cost comparisons reveal EVs are around six times cheaper than petrol or diesel equivalents.


The businesses benefits


Businesses are increasingly considering the advantages of EV investment and recognising the potential commercial opportunities inherent in the EV revolution. A growing number of organisations are introducing EV fleets for employees and goods vehicles, with around 5,500 electric vans registered in May 2018.


uRolton Group is exploring the impact of EVs on future developments for automove retail.


With more commuters using EVs, installing charging points at workplaces is becoming a valuable benefit for employees and visitors. Being pro-active in the face of change to ensure EV owners do not


Vs have experienced a meteoric rise over the past decade. The British plug-in fleet is now the fourth largest in Europe – and the trend shows no


get ‘caught short’ could be a great differentiator against competitors, keeping your workforce on the road, attracting visitors and increasing their dwell-time at your premises. As EVs become more widely used as a primary mode of transport, EV charge points on-site may play a factor in the retention of your workforce and in attracting new team members. Brand image can be bolstered by an environmentally-friendly fleet composition, and provision of EV charge points could help position your business as leaders in sustainability and environmental responsibility and supporters of positive change.


The consideraons


However, widespread uptake of EVs doesn’t come without its challenges. The biggest obstacle to be overcome is the country’s energy infrastructure as a whole. Our ageing national grid is constantly being stretched to its limits and EV charging could well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Across the UK, the increase and variety of EV charging options is bringing greater complexity across the charging network. As yet, there is no standardised system for EV charge points. Understanding the diversity and what will be most suitable – both now in into the future – is crucial. Facilities managers and building services engineers must take a strategic view now of how widespread EV usage will impact energy infrastructure to ensure they can deliver EV charging without compromising business operations, including considering how they are going to cope with peaks in demand. Decentralised energy generation offers a route for businesses to have less reliance on the UK grid. Installing off- grid renewable power supply solutions – such as green waste to energy plants, PV or wind turbines – would not only facilitate the power requirements for EVs (if not completely, then at least in part), and would also secure future energy supply for a specific site.


uWith more commuters using EVs, installing charging points at workplaces is becoming a valuable benefit for employees and visitors


‘


In addition, such renewable energy sources would go towards meeting environmental targets.


In time, there is even the possibility of EV batteries using a shared workplace charging facility being combined as part of an energy storage solution (Vehicle-2- Grid system) to provide grid balancing services which will help minimise costly time of day tariffs to astute companies who employ this technology. Businesses will also need to consider how they will provide EV charging – will it be free for all, or paid for? Installing communal charging areas, for example, could provide an ongoing source of income from staff or visitors paying to charge EVs via their credit/energy cards.


The increasing demand for EVs will have implications for all areas of the built environment, resulting in an enormous impact on our energy infrastructure and on UK plc. We must act now to develop a robust energy infrastructure to meet our future needs. The challenge facilities managers and clients face is how to use new technologies, engineering and experience to deliver a future-proof solution, offering long term benefits for business, individuals and the environment.


www.rolton.com/EV 16 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AUGUST 2018 VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.bsee.co.uk


Facilies managers and building services engineers must take a strategic view now of how widespread EV usage will impact energy infrastructure to ensure they can deliver EV charging without compromising business operaons, including considering how they are going to cope with peaks in demand.


’


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