Energy sector backs drive for EVs; ‘smart’ charging could defeat power problems

The trade association for UK energy generators and suppliers, Energy UK, has put its weight behind a rapid move to electric vehicles (EVs) with a call to accelerate the infrastructure and support which will allow the roll-out to go further and faster. 

With the government planning to ban the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040, the Electric Vehicle Revolution report says that the UK must now speed up its progress to a future where cleaner and more efficient transport can transform air quality, boost manufacturing and even contribute to meeting energy demand.

With over 105,000 EVs on the UK roads in August 2017, approximately 600mn UK vehicle miles per year are now powered by electricity, says the report, and EVs are of course cleaner than ever before – now emitting around half of the carbon dioxide of the cleanest non-electric cars.

The report, the first of a series to come from Energy UK on electric vehicles, sets out findings from Energy UK’s Electric Vehicle Working Group on how greater collaboration across the energy, automotive and technology industries is essential for the rapid expansion of EVs. It makes recommendations on areas where support and direction from government are particularly required:

•       a regulatory framework which provides certainty for future investment and supports and incentivises the development of charging infrastructure;

•       more support for innovation and the ability to share usage data to assist with future infrastructure planning; and

•       developing smart charging arrangements to manage demand. 

Energy UK Chief Executive Lawrence Slade said: ‘Electric vehicles are the perfect catalyst for a smarter grid that cuts carbon emissions and empowers consumers. Car owners could benefit financially from EVs’ ability to store and supply power back to the grid which shows how the way we all use energy in the future could be transformed. However, the full integration of electric vehicles into UK’s energy infrastructure is a challenge that demands a “whole system” approach. It requires ambition, close cooperation across several sectors and a vision that is based around empowering and benefitting the consumer.’ 

Meanwhile, the Electric Nation project has suggested that ‘smart’ EV charging could provide a solution to the challenge of the rising power demand from increasing numbers of EVs on electricity networks. The project is investigating just this question, particularly where additional demand from local clusters of EVs could require reinforcement of these networks.

Based on almost 70,000 hours of charging data, its initial findings show that 48% of plug-in events begin between 5 pm and midnight but, on average, while these vehicles are plugged in for 12 hours they are only charging for just over two hours. This suggests that there is likely to be sufficient flexibility to manage charging away from peak electricity demand periods. Electric Nation is to run further smart charging trials for the rest of 2017 and 2018.

•       The government has named the six winning bidders who will share £11mn of funding for low emission buses in England and Wales – the money will help councils and bus companies to buy 153 electric and gas-powered vehicles and to install stations to fuel or charge them. They include the City of York Council, £3.3mn for 24 electric buses to be used on park and ride services; and South Gloucestershire Council, £4.8m for 110 gas buses for services around Bristol. Funding for the initiative comes through the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).