5 minute read
Charging towards 2030
15 OPINION 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 infrastructure, 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.
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.
EV POWERED 16
PODCAST WEBSITE YOUTUBE
Join us for special episodes of ‘The Everything EV Podcast’ recorded from the EV Powered Taxi. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast today! Available on all streaming platforms
For daily news coverage, features and more, visit evpowered.co.uk
Check out all our in-depth EV and electric car reviews on the EV Powered YouTube channel
