INDUSTRIAL
Europe’s transition to EVs and charging infrastructure challenges
To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, Europe is accelerating the adoption of EVs, necessitating a robust EV charging network. As of November 2023, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) estimated that EVs reached nearly 1.4 million units, representing a 14.2% share of the EU car market, underscoring the rapid transition to e-mobility.
While most of the charging demand is currently met by AC home charging wall boxes, publicly accessible DC chargers are increasingly needed to provide the same level of convenience and accessibility as for refueling conventional cars. In dense urban areas, where access to home charging is more limited, public charging infrastructure is a key enabler for e-mobility. Publicly accessible DC fast chargers, especially those along motorways, enable longer journeys and can address range anxiety, but also challenge the electrical grid to provide the needed energy. To overcome this extra energy demand on the power grid, energy storage systems, such as large-scale batteries and hydrogen storage units, are
being installed in motorway service stations to support the charging infrastructure. The complexity of decarbonising commercial transportation is much higher than for cars. City buses and light delivery vehicles travel set routes and can be recharged at a central location. However, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) that travel long distances and carry heavy loads bring additional challenges, especially considering the weight of the battery and the very high- power needs for fast charging.
Energy Storage Requirements and Solutions
With increased renewable energy production and transition to EVs, the once diverse worlds of renewable energy generation, energy storage and e-mobility are becoming increasingly intertwined. In the next step, integrating the motorway battery energy storage units with local renewable sources from solar or wind farms can help reduce infrastructure costs related to grid connection and electricity procurement. Also, installing green hydrogen production units powered by local renewable sources.
While passenger cars will quickly transition to battery EVs (BEVs), with only a minor share of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) by 2030, the percentage of BEVs and FCEVs for medium to heavy trucks will likely be more balanced in Europe. The attraction of readily accessible green hydrogen along major motorway routes will support the FCEV commercial trucking industry.
Resources for Supporting the Future of Renewable Energy & Infrastructure
The transition to a decarbonised economy is supported by advancements in energy storage and infrastructure technologies. Designers of power distribution units and battery packs can learn more about the latest high-voltage (HV) connection systems. Manufacturers of charging stations, wall boxes and EVs will be interested in the newest AC or DC outlets, charge cables and inlets, while engineers working on HV power inverters can receive more information on the latest MOSFET solutions, HV capacitors, and fuses. These technologies are essential for reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and transitioning to a decarbonised economy.
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JUNE 2024 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
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