EV Powered Magazine - FEBRUARY 2022 EDITION

Britishvolt gets £100m boost to build UK’s first large-scale ‘gigafactory’

The UK government will invest £100m in Britishvolt as the car battery manufacturing startup seeks to build Britain’s first largescale ‘gigafactory’ in the northeast of England.

leaseback deal for the huge building that will house the electric car battery factory, near Blyth in Northumberland.

The first batteries are scheduled to start production in 2024 to take advantage of rising demand ahead of the UK’s 2030 ban on new cars without a battery. The government and Britishvolt declined to detail the size of the government investment, citing commercial confidentiality.

However, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said it was worth about £100m.

Peter Rolton, Britishvolt’s executive chairman, said: “The UK automotive industry needs a local source of batteries. Chinese or other Asian imports are not going to be an option. There will be very, very significant shortfalls of batteries. We are absolutely vital to maintain the UK industry and support those jobs.”

Williams Advanced Engineering sold in £164M deal

The government’s Automotive Transformation Fund will invest alongside asset management company Abrdn and its majority-owned property investment arm, Tritax, to fund a sale and Williams Advanced Engineering has been sold to Fortescue Metals Group by private equity firm EMK Capital and Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited for £164 million.

WAE will be integrated into Fortescue’s diversified resources and green energy business and will be managed via Fortescue Future Industries, Fortescue’s green energy and green technology division. Fortescue has worked closely with WAE since early 2021 to design and build a prototype battery system to power an electric mining haul truck.

Sunderland has been ranked as the best city to own an electric vehicle in the UK, according to new research from Forbes Advisor.

With nearly 750,000 new EVs registered in 2021, Forbes Advisor used data from 20 of the most populated cities in the UK and ranked each city based on four EV metrics: cost of charging an EV at home, number of standard and rapid EV charging points per 100,000 people, and the number of rapid charging points per registered EV in the area.

The acquisition will see Fortescue and WAE develop battery electric solutions for Fortescue’s rail, mobile haul fleet and other heavy mining equipment, to accelerate the rapid abatement of diesel usage to achieve the decarbonisation of Fortescue’s mining operations by 2030.

The transaction is expected to conclude by the end of March 2022, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions precedent including United Kingdom foreign investment approval.

MFG to open 60 EV hubs this year with £50 million investment

Motor Fuel Group has announced plans to open 60 new electric vehicle charging hubs this year as part of a £50 million investment.

The investment will see MFG install over 350, ultrarapid 150kW EV chargers at 60 hubs throughout the UK. This project is part of MFG’s commitment to invest £400 million in EV infrastructure by 2030.

Beyond the 60 new hubs scheduled for opening in 2022, MFG will energise a further 20 sites in Q1 2022 that have been completed in the final months of 2021.

MFG hubs will consist of between four and eight ultra-rapid 150kW EV Chargers per site. 150kW chargers can add 100 miles range in approximately ten minutes, subject to the charging capability of individual car batteries. These will be augmented with 300kW+ chargers as vehicle battery technology improves to maintain the fastest charging times across the MFG network.

The investment in 2022 builds on the £40 million EV investment undertaken in 2021 which saw MFG significantly boost the national ultra-rapid EV charging infrastructure, as well as opening their visionary flagship forecourt in Putney and the NorthWest of England’s first dedicated ultra-rapid EV only site in Manchester. Alongside its investment in EV, MFG made a £50 million investment to improve its retail, food to go, and valeting offer to the consumer in 2021. MFG’s investment will continue in the years ahead across its UK wide network.

The company conducted road tests of its new prototype batteries earlier this week and reported a 752-mile range before recharging.

Detroit-based startup Our Next Energy has claimed a 750-mile range on a Tesla Model S thanks to a next-generation battery.

The test was carried out across Michigan in late December, with the Model S travelling at an average speed of 55 miles per hour, ONE said. The company said it chose the Tesla model because it had a “fairly high efficiency and a fairly large battery pack” which provided enough space to fit ONE’s battery.

ONE hopes to produce batteries capable of similar ranges by late 2023, with the company also focused on developing an advanced long-range battery that uses safer and more sustainable materials, while packing more energy into a smaller, less expensive package.

scale solutions for battery manufacturing in Europe.

The companies aim to supply the entire range of processes and components needed for the largescale manufacture of battery cells and systems.

The partnership will draw on complementary areas of expertise, with Volkswagen becoming a major battery cell manufacturer, and combining Bosch’s know-how in factory automation and systems integration.

NEWS IN BRIEF

The first electric vehicle charging points for customers in Tesco stores in Northern Ireland are now live at the Craigavon Extra store, County Armagh.

Facilities management firm Mitie has converted 30% of its fleet to electric vehicles, three months ahead of its March 2022 target.

National housing provider Stonewater has unveiled plans to roll out EV chargepoints across its new-build and existing housing developments.

Maserati is to become the first Italian brand to race in Formula E, as the manufacturer confirmed its plans to enter the Gen3 era of the motorsport.

Volkswagen

The companies aim to supply the entire range of processes and components needed for the large-scale manufacture of battery cells and systems. The move comes as demand for the market continues to grow.

British Lithium has produced lithium at pilot scale from the mica in granite at its new plant near Roche, Cornwall.

VW and Bosch aim to industrialise manufacturing process for battery cells

American startup claims 750-mile range with next-gen batteries

has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bosch to explore industrial-

The Race to Zero

What

behind Volta Trucks?

I started the company in 2017 and we obtained the seed funding soon afterwards. We used that to design and develop our demonstrator vehicle as I believed that it was important for the credibility of our future that potential customers and investors could see and experience a real electric commercial vehicle, not just PowerPoint slides. That vehicle was developed in less than 12 months, showing the incredible pace that we work at, and was revealed in September 2020. Since then, we have been developing and engineering the production version of the vehicle, with the first road-going prototypes now being built, as well as recruiting and scaling the company to ensure we can commercialise the products

and services and start full-scale production of the Volta Zero at the end of 2022.

We’ve completed two funding rounds and scaled from a handful of employees to over 200 team members. At the end of the year, I was delighted to be able to confirm a partnership with DB Schenker, Europe’s largest land transport company, for Europe’s largest purchase of full-electric trucks to date. It was a great way to be able to conclude an important year.

Following the launch of the Volta Zero in September 2020, 2021 was an important foundation year for us.

Following the launch of the demonstrator vehicle, last year saw the mule experimental prototype and, at the end of the year, the final design of the Volta Zero, as well as the first road-going prototype, proving that we are well on the way towards production of vehicles.

What do you hope to achieve in 2022?

We have a huge amount to achieve by the end of 2022. We’ve got to continue the development work of the vehicles, and we will also start the development for a second range of smaller 7.5- and 12-tonne Volta Zero vehicles.

Commercially we also need to develop our presence in all our additional European launch re-

is the story

With the aim of becoming the global leader in zero emission transport, Carl-Magnus Norden, founder and executive chairman of Volta Trucks, spoke with EV Powered about the challenges facing the company and why 2022 is a pivotal year for Volta.

2021 seemed to be a significant year in the company’s history - What were some of the key milestones from last year?

gions of Madrid, Milan, Germany and the Netherlands. If 2021 was a year of building foundations, 2022 will be a year of delivery, and there’s a huge amount to do as we progress towards manufacturing full-electric tucks that will make city centres safer, healthier and more pleasant for all.

What are some of the biggest engineering challenges that come with the manufacturing and mass production of fully electric HGVs?

As a start-up that’s building the world’s first purpose-built full-electric commercial vehicle, we are not reliant on established design and engineering principles or supply chains - we must build a team of experts and suppliers and do everything ourselves for the first time. That brings challenges but also, importantly, opportunities. We can assess what works well and, from a blank sheet of paper, what can be improved. We have not only completely redesigned the established commercial vehicle concept, thanks to our compact electric powertrain that makes our electric truck far safer for other vulnerable road users, but we’ve also dramatically reduced the design and development time compared to a conventional vehicle, from 5-7 years to around 24 months. This means that we can accelerate our speed to market to start making an impact as soon as possible.

Many people believe hydrogen fuel cell technology is better suited to zero-emission HGVs,

vans and lorries, instead of battery electric power - What is your viewpoint on the argument between hydrogen and battery power

For me, there is no doubt that electric is the technology that works for the last-mile and city-centre logistics vehicle we are designing, where a range of up to 200kms is sufficient, with a return-to-base charging principle. I think that hydrogen could have a future, on the long-haul arterial routes where battery technology doesn’t currently have the longer range that hydrogen could offer. That said, battery technology has one key advantage – it’s deliverable today rather than at some point in the future when a hydrogen refill infrastructure could be available. And we need action today to avert the climate crisis and help resolve the local air quality issues.

Is enough being done from governments and industry bodies to support the production and rollout of fully electric lorries and HGVs?

In short, no. We hear politicians talking about banning combustion engine vehicles by 2035 or 2040, but the climate crisis is now, and we must accelerate the rate of zero emission vehicles coming onto the roads to address this most important

societal issue. Paris is a great example of what’s possible with a progressive and aggressive mindset. Legislators in Paris have banned diesel-engine trucks from the streets from the end of 2023, as well as introducing significant financial incentives to fleets to transition to zero emission vehicles. This is creating a huge demand with, today, very little supply. We will fulfil some of this demand but encourage others to bring zero emission vehicles to the market. Only in this way can we address the climate emergency, rather than letting it continue unchecked for decades.

transport is zero-emission?

The technology is available now, and the important Total Cost of Ownership is already positive in the case of electric versus diesel, so there is every incentive for the migration now. The speed of the migration, and when the majority of vehicle fleets will be zero emission depends on how legislation develops over the coming years. Worryingly though, if you consider that most trucks have an 8-10 year first life with a customer, and then probably have another 8-10 year life with a second customer after that - if legislators stick to the current 2040 ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine trucks, diesel-engine vehicles could still be running on roads and causing climate change and air quality pollution until at least 2055 or 2060. That’s nearly 40 years’ time. We must have the highest levels of ambition to accelerate the transition to electric and zero emission fleets.

for vehicles of a similar size and class as the Volta Zero?

What is a realistic timescale for a world where the majority of road

COVER STORY

10 AMAZING EV CONVERSIONS

As the world of EV conversions continues to gather pace, we pick out ten amazing examples of classic cars making the switch over to electric.

EVERATTI’S PORSCHE 911 (964) COUPE

Last year, we got behind the wheel of Everrati’s EV masterpiece, the Porsche 911 (964) Coupe, and it did not disappoint. Sculpted into a ‘Signature’ wider body fit, with larger wheel arches giving this car a great deal of presence, Everatti’s 911 hits 0-60mph in less than four seconds, with 500Nm of torque catapulting you into your seat as soon as your foot hits the throttle. Keen to produce an EV conversion that is more than just a party-piece and fit for the real world, the fully-electric Porsche 911 has a range of around 180 miles and is fitted with CCS fast-charging to allow it to charge from 20% to 80% in under 45 minutes.

Use this QR code to watch our full review of Everatti’s Porsche 911 (964) Coupe.

EV CONVERSIONS

EVERATTI’S

ELECTRIFIED LAND ROVER SERIES IIA

Elsewhere in Everatti’s catalogue of conversions is the reimagined Land Rover Series IIA, a zero-emission utilitarian vehicle for the 21st century.

Fitted with a state-of-the-art 60kWh battery pack, this fully-electric British icon packs a punch with 150bhp and 300Nm of torque, whilst retaining a true zero-emission range of up to 125 miles. Justin Lunny, founder & CEO of Everrati Automotive Limited, comments: “With the unveiling of an electric version of the legendary Land Rover Series IIA, we are continuing to deliver on Everrati’s mission, which is to craft cutting-edge, capable, highly desirable and sustainable cars, each with the soul of an icon. To do so requires unparalleled attention to detail and technical proficiency, with one eye on ensuring our iconic cars meet 21st century demands, and the other on safeguarding a vehicle’s original character and DNA – both dynamically and aesthetically.”

INTRODUCING THE 2CEV

For one of the quirkier conversions on this list, the electric Citroën 2CV by 2CEV is sure to turn a few heads with its bright yellow exterior, but it’s what is underneath that deserves the most attention.

With only a 10kWh battery pack delivering just 120NM of torque, it might not be the most exuberant, but testing from 2CEV has provided a fascinating insight into the longevity of EV conversions. According to the company, the 2CEV incorporates Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo) batteries in order to optimize the charge speed, efficiency & reliability. Thanks to this standardized technology, batteries are guaranteed to be at least 80% of their original capacity after 2,500 charge cycles. This means if you fully charge your 2CEV twice a week every week, it will take 24 years to reach the 2500 charge cycles or approximately 175000 miles. It adds that 90% of the initial charge is still available after 6 months without recharging, and whilst most modern EVs will lose some power overnight if not plugged in, the 2CEV will not.

NISSAN’S ‘HISTORIC’ BLUEBIRD CONVERSION

Whilst the majority of classic car conversions are produced by small, independent companies, the popularity of these projects have forced some of the biggest car manufacturers in the world to reimagine some of their most loved models.

And that is exactly what Nissan has done with its fully electric ‘Newbird’; the oneoff project car commissioned to celebrate 35 years of production at its Sunderland plant. The ‘Newbird’ has had its original petrol combustion engine and gearbox removed and replaced by a Leaf motor, inverter and 40kWh battery pack, with the battery modules split between the engine bay and boot for optimised weight distribution. Updates and modifications were made to the power steering, braking and heating systems to enable them to be electrically powered. A custom suspension was also installed to support the additional weight from the battery packs. The battery can be recharged at up to 6.6kW and the original driver instrument panel has been connected to the EV system to enable the fuel gauge to show the battery state of charge. For the exterior of the vehicle, Nissan Design Europe, based in London, created a new graphic motif inspired by design cues of 1980s consumer technology, combined with a 21st century aesthetic.

THE TIMELESS ELECTRIC PAGODA

For the definition of an electric classic car, restoration firm Hemmels, along with Swindon Powertrain, joined forces to create a 100% electric Mercedes-Benz Pagoda.

The Hemmels 280SL Electric might not be cheap, with prices starting from around £220,000, but this premium EV conversion is completely bespoke, with each customer having the final say on colour, steering wheel colour, carpet weave, wood type, leather texture and accent colours.

Hemmels’ Pagoda comes with ‘flexi-charge’ capabilities, as well as modern features such as heating, window defrosting, A/C and in-car entertainment, to make this EV conversion one of the most desirable around.

ELECTROGENIC’S JAGUAR E-TYPE MASTERPIECE

Ahead of the London Classic Car Show last year, Oxford-based classic car electrification company Electrogenic revealed its fully-electric Jaguar E-type showpiece.

Described by Enzo Ferrari as “the most beautiful car ever made,” the project was undertaken in order to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the E-type. Available in a range of specifications, Electrogenics’ premium ‘Grand Tourer’ fit features an electric powertrain that delivers 300kW and 600Nm of torque for high performance. With an approximate all-electric range of 150 miles, the Grand Tourer option offers a single range extension that increases the range on a single charge to 250 miles. Prices for the conversion, which require a donor car to be provided, start from £54,000 for the ‘Tourer’ model, £62,000 for a ‘Sprint’ version and £80,000 for the luxury Grand Tourer. Ian Newstead, director and co-founder of Electrogenic “As with every classic that we convert to run on electric power, the E-type presented its own unique challenges - the main one being the weight of expectation. The E-type’s reputation is well-known in the industry, and living up to that is never going to be easy – but this is a wonderfully engaging car to drive.”

EDUBS SERVICES’

VOLKSWAGEN MK2 GOLF

York-based eDubs Services has an impressive portfolio when it comes to electric conversions, with projects ranging from VW Campers to classic BMW’s, but it was their take on the Volkswagen Golf MK2 that caught our eye.

Fitted with a Tesla drive unit, the Golf’s character and personality are completely reinvigorated to ensure these classic models don’t “fade into the past.” The MK2 Golf has a power output of up to 600bhp and 70kW charging capabilities to enable this classic car to thrive once again in the 21st century.

Watch our in-depth review of eDubs Services’ Volkswagen MK2 Golf here.

EV CONVERSIONS

LUNAZ DESIGN’S ASTON MARTIN DB6

Silverstone-based EV conversion specialists Lunaz Design recently announced the re-engineering of a fully electric Aston Martin DB6.

Joining Lunaz Design’s prestigious lineup of electric conversion projects, including the world’s first production Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Range Rover and Jaguar sportscars, the iconic DB6 is available in a variety of battery packs, ranging from 80 to 120kWh, with a maximum range of 255 miles. Available to customers all other the world in either left-hand or right-hand drive configuration, the DB6 is unsurprisingly the most expensive model on this list, with prices exceeding $1 million. David Lorenz, founder and CEO of Lunaz Group, said: “The introduction of electric Aston Martin DB6 cars has been driven by sustained demand from our existing clients. It also reflects the desires of an entirely new classic car buyer. These women and men have been drawn to Lunaz because for the first time they are presented with the powertrain and modern conveniences of today, clothed in a design that speaks of an era when aesthetic purity was the only requirement.”

ELECTRIC-POWERED CLASSIC MINI CONVERSION

Proving that electric vehicle conversions don’t have to cost the earth, London Electric Cars (LEC) has launched its own affordable electric-powered classic Mini, with prices starting from £25,000.

The base 20 kWh LEC classic Mini conversion has a projected range of 60 - 70 miles, with owners having the ability to install a higher kWh motor and upgraded batteries to provide more range at an additional cost. Using a pre-owned Nissan Leaf motor and battery cells, the company also has plans to reuse and renew computer hardware and batteries inside traction packs and uses additive manufacturing technologies to assist with the production and engineering of the LEC classic Mini conversions, all conducted from its London-based workshop. Matthew Quitter, Founder and Managing Director of London Electric Cars said: “As a classic car enthusiast and advocate for affordable and sustainable electric vehicle conversions, it made sense for us to focus on the original Mini. With this EV conversion we wanted the classic Mini to be an affordable yet useful option for city dwellers, not just in our home town of London but all over the world to tackle traffic and help put a stop to pollution.”

EVERATTI TEAMS UP WITH SUPERFORMANCE FOR ‘LEGENDARY’

GT40 CONVERSION

Everatti, along with Superformance, the leading manufacturer of 1960s-era continuation component sports cars, have combined forces to electrify the GT40.

The Everrati and Superformance partnership will allow enthusiasts to drive an electric-powered GT40, with development of this first model already underway. A prototype chassis has been built and is being comprehensively adapted from ICE power to advanced electric propulsion at Everrati’s UK development centre.

Oxfordshire-based mobility firm, Electric Assisted Vehicles (EAV) is transforming the world of last mile deliveries. Charlie Atkinson visited the company’s headquarters to find out how these innovative electric vehicles are changing the game for urban deliveries.

Tucked away in a quiet corner of a disused RAF station in Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, is Electric Assisted Vehicles, or EAV (pronounced Eve), a company that has created and developed a series of pioneering eCargo Bikes, designed to decarbonize the last-mile delivery sector.

The company’s vehicles, which have already been used by the likes of DPD and Ocado, are fourwheeled e-bikes, assisted by an electric motor with a design which has been specifically tailored for inner-city deliveries.

Whilst the bikes themselves are quick, agile and perfectly suited for urban landscapes, they are also as sustainable as possible. Fully-electric and manufactured out of eco-friendly steel tubing

and flax composite, EAV’s eCargo bikes have a range of around 45 miles and a recharge time of between six and seven hours.

As the world searches for eco-friendly, zeroemission alternatives to all forms of transport, founder and CEO of EAV, Adam Barmby, explained why it so important to decarbonize the industry of last-mile deliveries.

“

With a vehicle like this, you can pretty much guarantee your journey times, you can go down cycle lanes, into pedestrian zones, you can park inside, you can’t get a parking ticket and you are averaging twice the speed than you would in a van in the city centre. ”

He said: “It’s a big polluter from a carbon point of view, but actually it’s also the largest cost. The final mile usually accounts for more than 50% of the total cost of delivery so the carriers want a much easier, quicker and cheaper solution to do that last mile delivery.

“With a vehicle like this, you can pretty much guarantee your journey times, you can go down cycle lanes, into pedestrian zones, you can park

inside, you can’t get a parking ticket and you are averaging twice the speed than you would in a van in the city centre.”

It is no secret that the world is moving towards an electric future, and products such as EAV’s electric assisted eCargo Bikes are just one piece of a much larger puzzle.

When discussing what else can be done to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, Barmby believes it is all about taking cars out of cities and tailoring the spaces for pedestrians, cyclists and electric and zero-emission vehicles.

He continued: “Intercity, you’re never going to get rid of that sort of long-haul lorry, big van area, but inner city, vehicles will be banned, whether they’re electric or not. That’s already starting in parts of London, Bristol etc, especially even in

range of clients consisting of DPD, Asda, DHL and Ocado to name a few. ”

Europe. Paris is a fantastic model for how I think the future of our cities look because it basically just got rid of all the all the roads and they’re now cycle lanes and pedestrian zones.

“If you’re asking me what I think in the future of inner urban mobility, it doesn’t involve a car in it. It includes micro-mobility based products and we are actually involved in different micromobility infrastructure projects where we can showcase where we think that this sort of commercial led micro-mobility has to fit into our current infrastructure which is not what we have right now. Equally, the government has set aside £2 billion in the UK for cycling and walking infrastructure and that will be a very large part of our city.”

The vehicles have certainly proved popular, with an impressive range of clients consisting of DPD, Asda, DHL and Ocado to name a few.

In October, the company also announced a deal with LaundryHeap to supply 200 eCargo vehicles throughout 2021 and 2022, worth £2.6 million. “Companies like LaundryHeap are perfect partners for us.,” said Leo Bethell, head of business partnerships at EAV. “They have environmental sustainability at the heart of their operations, but they need the highest levels of efficiency and performance to achieve their business objectives. Using eCargo bikes in urban environments is much more efficient and effective than vans, combustion engine or electric. We’re lighter and quicker and easier to operate.”

Review

Weighing at only 170kg, EAV’s standard 2Cubed eCargo bike has all the characteristics of any electric vehicle. Perfectly described by Barmby as “an electric car but with handlebars,” the bike is grinningly nippy and remains flexible and nimble even when travelling at a decent pace.

It certainly does feel faster than the maximum assisted speed of just 15mph, but that is probably a sensible limit considering these bikes will be working amongst the hustle and bustle of lively city centres.

Of course, I got to play around with this bike whilst it was empty, and so when this vehicle is fully stocked with up to a 150kg payload (with 2000L storage space), it will feel a lot more rooted and controlled, but the power from the 48V battery will retain the thrust and energy that a vehicle like this needs.

EAV’s eCargo bikes are as fun as they are practical, and starting from just over £12,000 and with a variety of new models scheduled for release soon, you may be seeing more and more of these little bikes near you in no time at all.

“

models scheduled for release soon,

With a variety of new

you may be seeing more and more of these little bikes near you in no time at all. ”

The vehicles have certainly proved popular, with an impressive

Will eCargo Bikes change deliveries forever? Use this QR code to watch our full review.

Last year, Equipmake, along with Spanishbased coachmaker Beulas, developed a fully electric double-decker bus, the Jewel E, which boasted a real-world range of 300 miles.

The two manufacturers have since teamed up with Go Ahead London to start trials of the Jewel E in London, which are set to begin early this year.

Ian Foley, managing director of Equipmake, joined Charlie Atkinson on the Everything EV Podcast to discuss this project and the inspiration behind it.

Foley said: “There were already some in the market, but we believed that with our technology we could make a step forward and we believed that the market was going to be expanding, which it is. Here we are a couple of years later and it’s bearing fruit now. It was really to try and get a step forward in the development of a doubledecker bus. Also doing a double-decker is quite a bit more difficult; it’s quite heavy, it’s a big old thing and so getting enough performance in terms of range for the day is quite a challenge, and we were interested to see if we could beat that challenge.”

The Jewel E is powered by three modular battery pack options of up to 543kWh, which Equipmake claims is the largest capacity battery of any twoaxle double-decker electric bus in the world.

But as Foley said, the Jewel E is remarkably heavy, and managing the weight of the bus has been the most challenging aspect of the project.

He continued: “There’s always challenges but over the last couple of years we’ve developed

The man behind the electric double-decker bus

Ian Foley, managing director of Equipmake, discusses the process of developing a fully electric double-decker bus.

this electric chassis so most of it is already there. The main thing with the bus is getting the weight in the right place, so the key thing is that when you add all the people in, it gets a lot heavier and how that weight is distributed is quite important because the rear axle has a weight limit by law of 11 and a half tonnes, so it becomes about how you get all that battery on the bus and get the weight distribution you want.”

to produce and the fuel cells are very expensive, so it’s solving a problem that doesn’t exist.

“My view is battery-electric buses, and it will be the same with battery-electric trucks, are cost effective and they work. The infrastructure for electricity exists, we’ve got a National Grid, we need to add to it for charging stations, but the infrastructure for hydrogen doesn’t exist. It’s expensive to make and the fuel cells aren’t reliable enough yet, so to me it’s solving a problem that the doesn’t exist.

Despite the Jewel E’s 300-mile range being more than enough to cope with the daily demand of a double decker bus in London, an electric bus will always be drawn into the debate between battery power and hydrogen.

However, Foley believes that, when you look at the bigger picture, a battery-electric doubledecker bus makes much more sense than a hydrogen powered one.

Foley said: “When you look at the fundamentals, ultimately the goal has to be for all the energy to be generated through renewables. With renewable electricity, you get about 80-85% of that is usable energy in a battery-electric vehicle, it’s about 30% if you make hydrogen with electricity. Hydrogen is extraordinarily expensive

“If you think about things like ships, where it doesn’t matter if it’s bigger and heavier, then maybe hydrogen is a solution for that because you’re not going to get a battery powered ship that’s going to sail for five days or two weeks across the ocean, so I think there’s possibly a place for hydrogen, but I personally don’t think there’s any place for it on the roads.”

The latest episode of the Everything EV podcast is available on all streaming services, so be sure to like and subscribe to get every episode as soon as it’s released.

Charging towards 2030

Are we ready for the future?

While electric vehicle (EV) registrations continue to rise across Europe, questions remain about the suitability of our charging infrastructure. In this article, Jack Fielder, Chief Strategy Officer at myenergi, discusses the market’s challenges and opportunities, alongside explaining the increasingly important role of smart home charging.

Better for the planet, offering lower maintenance costs, boasting lower road tax and avoiding rising fuel prices, EVs are fast-becoming an attractive option for many savvy motorists. In fact, according to a recent survey commissioned by the Platform for Electromobility, pan-European EV registrations are predicted to overtake internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles sales within three years.

While this trend has been emerging over the past few years – and further accelerated by the UK’s 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars – the market has exploded during the pandemic. Global attention on COP26 and increased awareness of carbon emissions have seen a rapid spike in the registrations of battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). In the third quarter of 2021, diesel vehicles comprised just 18 per cent of new European car registrations, while combined BEV, PHEV and hybrid-electric vehicles (HEV) sales accounted for nearly 40 per cent – a remarkable turning point.

Further still, predictions suggest that, thanks to declining upfront EV costs, a widening range of available models, tightening standards and demanding deadlines, registrations will continue to accelerate. Industry estimates suggest that EVs will exceed 50% market share by 2026, rising to nearly 90% of EV sales by 2030.

Industry estimates suggest that EVs will exceed 50% market share by 2026, rising to nearly 90% of EV sales by 2030. ”

But while watching momentum build is positive news, the simple fact is that we still have distance to travel when it comes to forcing fossil fuel vehicles off the road for good. Perhaps the most critical point is our charging infrastruc -

ture, which must become as abundant and convenient as the fuel stations of today. Without straightforward and available charging systems, the transition to EVs will underperform compared to these predictions.

DEVELOPING OUR CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE

According to Deloitte, there are currently more than 22,000 public charging points accessible nationwide, spanning nearly 14,000 locations. On paper, this sounds like incredible progress, but it’s important to remember that BEV sales increased by more than 185% between 2019 and 2020 alone.

Just as we reach a turning point in EV sales and adoption, have we discovered a new impediment? While many drivers are coming around to the real-world viability of EVs, we now have another challenge on our hands. If the EV car parc is going to grow in line with predictions, there is an urgent and pressing need to ensure that we have sufficient charge point capacity.

To achieve this, we require significant private and public investment in the development of charging networks that are robust and easy to use. Better still, we need to encourage EV owners to charge their vehicles at home (whenever possible) to free-up charge point capacity.

At myenergi, our smart EV charger is helping to overcome the challenge of charging point accessibility. zappi is a future-proofed solution that, alongside operating as a mains-connected charging device, seamlessly integrates with household renewable energy generation technologies – like solar and small wind turbines. This means that zappi users can harness selfgenerated energy to charge their EV for free – a compelling way to achieve zero-emission travel.

If a household doesn’t yet have renewable generation, or if the sun isn’t shining, zappi is able to automatically optimise around your energy tariff to enable charging at both cheaper and greener times from the grid.

With more than 80% of EV charging undertaken at home, our goal is to provide householders with a reliable solution that helps to simplify the EV ownership experience. In just a few years, we have shipped more than 100,000 units across the globe and recently took home gold in the Driver Power Survey for home electric car chargers.

Our mission has always been to drive the widespread adoption of electric vehicles and challenge misconceptions surrounding EV ownership. While the barricades are quickly coming down for many motorists, we are now faced with the new challenge of ensuring the adequate quantity and quality of charging infrastructure.

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Our message is simple. Further investment in publiclyaccessible charging points is critical. ”

Our message is simple. Further investment in publicly-accessible charging points is critical. Not just an uptick in roll-out, but an overhaul and rapid increase in line with EV sales figures. At the same time, home charging should be seen as a simple and effective solution for those fortunate enough to have a driveway or garage.

Wherever possible, EV owners should be considering state-of-the-art smart chargers for their households. As a step further, zappi can offer net-zero charging options – a green, clean carbon-neutral solution for the ultimate peace of mind.

As the transition towards electrified mobility continues to accelerate at pace, myenergi is committed to operating at the forefront of the industry. Not just as a technological leader, but also as a supporter and enabler of EV adoption. The days of ICE-powered vehicles are numbered and we must all prepare for the technological shift now. Is the UK ready? Not yet, but the path is simple and the solutions are plentiful.