The Pivotal Role of Home Charing

from EV Powered Magazine - JUNE 2022 EDITION

Rolls-Royce Spectre

35 COLUMN The pivotal role of home charging

in the EV infrastructure of tomorrow

Jordan Brompton, co-founder and CMO of myenergi, discusses the accelerating transition to electrification and explains why home charging will play such a pivotal role in the national EV infrastructure of tomorrow.

According to the latest insight from EV mapping service Zap-Map, 1,213 new public chargepoints were installed across the UK in April. Yet another record-breaking month, this brings the total number of chargepoints to an impressive 31,507 devices spanning 19,707 locations nationwide. Of this total, more than 18% (5,751 devices) are classed as either rapid or ultra-rapid, providing speeds of up to 100kW and offering up to 70 miles of charge in as little as 15 minutes. The rise of ultra-rapid devices alone has shown hugely impressive growth, with installation rates rising by more than 74% in the past 12 months. The continued growth of the public EV charging network means that there are now almost four times more charging points than petrol stations in the UK, with installation rates continuing to increase at pace. Indeed, over the past few months alone, Gridserve has opened yet another state-of-the-art electric forecourt, while ABB E-mobility and Shell have entered a global framework agreement (GFA) to accelerate the uptake of alternatively-fuelled vehicles and help support Shell’s ambition of operating 500,000 charging points globally by 2025. While many were concerned that ongoing global supply shortages would dampen driver demand for electric vehicles, this is seemingly far from the case. Indeed, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), registrations of new battery-electric cars (BEV) in April increased by more than 40% year-onyear, while sales of diesel and petrol car sales decreased by 50% and 23% respectively. Furthermore, according to Sky News, the sales of used BEVs also reached record rates in Q1 2022, with some 14,586 pre-owned vehicles changing hands (more than double compared to the same period in 2021). But while the transition to electrification is seemingly racing ahead, experts remain concerned that our national charging infrastructure is struggling to keep up. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) advises 2.3 million charging points will be needed in the UK by 2030 to keep up with predicted demand. This would mean installing 700 charge points every single day until the end of the decade. Our message is simple. Further investment in publicly-accessible “ charging points is critical. ”

So, just as we reach a turning point in EV sales and adoption, have we discovered yet another impediment? While many drivers are coming around to the real-world viability of EVs, it seems as though 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. But what can we do to achieve this? In my opinion, we need further private and public investment in the development of charging networks that are robust and easy to use. More importantly still, we need to encourage EV owners to charge their vehicles at home – whenever possible – to free-up charge point capacity. EASING PRESSURE ON THE PUBLIC NETWORK

While not everyone is fortunate enough to have use of a driveway, insight from the Energy Savings Trust suggests that more than 80% of all EV charging still takes place at home. Although the cost of living crisis is making people think twice about the cost effectiveness of EVs, findings from The Scottish Sun identify that a VW ID.3 could be charged for as little as £13.75 per month when using the correct home tariff - compared to a monthly cost of £91.75 for public charging and an average cost of £258 for a diesel car. Charging at home is not only cost-effective, but also hugely convenient. While it requires an upfront investment, regulation set to come into force later this summer will see smart EV charging points installed at every new build property nationwide. In addition, the newly-announced EV chargepoint grant for landlords will overcome the previous challenges of installing charging devices at rented properties – and who should pay for it. 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 self-generated 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. 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.

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