Hubsta Winter Issue Magazine

MAGAZINE Winter 2018 Issue

ELECTRIC VEHICLES > FLEET > CHARGING > BUSINESS > INNOVATION

THE ELECTRIC TAXI

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

06

08-09

19

SMART CHARGING EXPLAINED

ELECTRIC NEWS

NEW TX ALL ELECTRIC TAXI

02 Contents 03

04

06 - 07

EDITOR’S LETTER

CO-WHEELS CAR CLUB

SMART / HOME CHARGING

08-09

10

12 - 13

ELECTRIC NEWS

WE TALK WLTP

ELMTRONICS APOINTS STAFF AS COMPANY EXPANDS

14-15

TESLA REVIEW

17

19

NEW REGULATIONS FOR EV CHARGING

LCEV - ALL NEW TX ELECTRIC TAXI

20-21

22-23

QUORUM BUSINESS PARK INTRODUCE EV CHARGING

LOOKERS

03 Guest Editor

WHY SHOULD I INSTALL CHARGEPOINTS AT MY BUSINESS?

Lyndsey Hetherington Sales Manager Elmtronics

Truthfully, this isn’t a question I get asked daily.

Most of the businesses I engage with have already identified a need for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, that is why they get in touch…

As we enter a New Year and eagerly await an update on the OLEV Workplace Chargepoint Funding – hoping this may be extended past the 31st March deadline…

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of installing electric vehicle charge points in your organisation: • Happy employees…By providing a facility for your employees to charge their vehicle whilst at work, you are making their lives a little bit easier. As an EV driver, I know all too well – I rely on the chargepoint at work, it really is a pivotal part of my re-charging routine, every single day!

• Reduce your carbon footprint! You don’t have to be a tree-hugger to care about the environment and you might even get some good PR or a couple of awards out of it too.

• More customers, that stay longer and hopefully spend more money.

Did you know that some EV drivers will only visit a place to charge their vehicles? By having an EV charging facility, you can attract a whole different type of customer. A customer who is greedy for electricity. A customer who is enthusiastic to plug-in to charge at new places. A customer that would rather charge in a public place than charge at home, using their own electricity… Yep, you guessed it, I’m talking about myself again!

• Convenience for clients and a positive brand reputation. EV Chargepoints outside of your office or factory offer an attractive facility for guests who can charge while visiting or in a meeting.

• Switch your fleet to electric, save money, improve efficiency and reduce CO2! Get ahead of the game.

• Funding on workplace chargepoints. You can claim £500 per socket for up to 20 charging sockets…but only until the pot runs out.

So, what are you waiting for?

We hope you enjoy the magazine and the topics we have covered, if you would like to feature in this magazine or have any suggestions we would love to hear from you. Email us at info@hubsta.co.uk.

04

THE UK’S BIGGEST INDEPENDANT CAR CLUB NOW IN 60 LOCATIONS

A car sharing club can save money and provide greener travel for your employees no matter what the size of your organisation.

If you currently pay staff to use their own cars or take taxis for work then switching to a more environment friendly alternative can not only help you hit your environmental targets to save CO2 it can also save around 25% on your staff travel costs.

To find out what Co-wheels coul www.co-wheels.org.uk/fleet or c email info@co-

05 Car clubs provide shared cars and vans available 24/7 on street which you only pay for when you use them, so smaller companies and those lucky enough to have existing shared cars near their work their can easily switch. But clubs like Co-wheels are also a specialist providers of in-house car clubs for large public and private sector employers which you can use to replace grey fleet mileage.

A corporate car share scheme is a simple, effective way to reduce your transport costs while still giving all your employees the flexibility and convenience of a company car right where they work. You can also use it to get your staff into electric or low emission cars which they may not be able to afford to buy themselves.

Simple online or smartphone booking and keyless entry solve the expense, hassle and legal headaches of running a mix of employees’ own grey fleet cars, lease vehicles, day rental, pool cars and taxis.

We carry out all the hassle of driver licence checks and insurance – no need for you to check paperwork to make sure staff are eligible and insured to use their own cars for work, and no processing their expenses claims. At the end of the month you just get one online bill, fully itemised so you can control your spending and reclaim VAT. Co-wheels has the most environmentally friendly car mixed share fleet in the UK, with electric, hybrid and low emission cars on its

national fleet. And if you are keen to get all your staff in electric vehicles, an in-house club it is the ideal way to ensure you get the maximum use without the need to purchase them up front.

Our scheme suits the needs of occasional or regular users. Key benefits for you include: - Reduced costs – we have achieved savings of around 25% over mileage for grey fleet - Less admin- you just get one monthly bill not hundreds of expenses claims and log books - More efficient - our online systems shows precise journey details so you can manage costs down - Less car parking - staff no longer have to bring their car to work and waste time finding a space - GDPR and legal headaches solved – we manage licence checks and maintain all cars removing your liability - Reduce environmental impact - staff don’t have to drive to work and can use EVs or low emission cars when at work.

It means having all the benefits of a fleet of cars right by your business but without the management headache and constant bills and expenses of managing your own cars, such as tax, insurance, servicing and repairs.

And if you travel on business we have around 600 vehicles in more than 50 towns and cities across the UK from Aberdeen to Bristol, many conveniently located by train stations.

d do for your business check out contacts us on 0191 375 1050 or -wheels.org.uk.

06

SMART CHARGING EXPLAINED...

Pictured: Quintin Wilson with his Smart Eve Mini Home Charger

A smart charger is essentially a charge point which is connected to the internet, that empowers you to easily understand, optimise and control your energy usage.

Why a smart charger?

Smart charging enables you to monitor electricity usage and enable you to set the car to charge at cheaper times.

Also, if you have a company vehicle having a smart charger makes it easy to claim back any charging expenses with the data provided via a networking portal. Smart technology can be an essential tool for EV charging, turning the car into a temporary storage system to supply power to the grid at peak times and charging the vehicle when overall demand is reduced.

The Eve Mini offers smart technology in a very small, modernly shaped casing. The Eve Mini is a compact wallbox that comes with integrated DC fault current detection and GPRS / Ethernet connectivity. The socket version also has a full colour display. The Eve Mini is completely designed, developed and produced in Europe exclusively with A-quality components.

Benefits of having a Smart Home Charger: • Full colour – LED display screen • Charging speeds – 3.7kW up to 22kW • Secure RFID card reader • Remote monitoring, maintenance and control • Remote data collection • Program when your car will charge – benefiting from lower electricity tariffs • Transaction data • Speed of repair – remotely diagnose and often fix any issues • Company car reimbursement capability • Available as a socket or tethered cable options

Smart driving. Zero Emissions

07

HOME CHARGE FAQ’S...

Do I need an electric vehicle home charge point?

Drivers usually choose an electric vehicle home charge point because charging times are up to 60% faster than using a 3-pin plug. The built-in safety features make charging at home more convenient and safer.

Is their a grant I can claim for my electric vehicle home charge point?

Yes, the government have a grant called OLEV, this can help towards the cost of your home charger and installation.

What is the OLEV grant?

Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) offer a grant to support the wider use of electric and hybrid vehicles. The OLEV grant can reduce the overall cost of supplying and installing a charge point by up to 75%.

To qualify for the grant, speak to a member of the Elmtronics home charge team. Elmtronics submit the grant application on your behalf after the install - simply provide the required documentation and Elmtronics will sort the rest for you.

A QUICK GUIDE TO CHARGING LEAD PLUGS ELMTRONICS GUIDE TO YOUR EV CHARGING LEAD PLUGS: FAST CHARGING (AC) TYPE 1 The main choice for Asian vehicle manufacturers including the Generation 1 Nissan leaf, Mitsubishi PHEV Outlander. A good deal of US vehicles use this connection but we are seeing a shift (including by Nissan for their generation 2 Leaf) toward the type 2 connection.

TYPE 2

Can I claim the grant for a company vehicle?

Most manufacturers to the market are adopting the Type 2 as standard for all new models in particular the German & European manufacturers such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes & Porsche. Its believed that this connector will become the standard.

Yes, as long as you are assigned to the electric vehicle for a minimum of six months.

Do I need a survey on my property or home?

Yes, a remote survey is carried out by Elmtronics - our experienced home charge advisors will guide you through every step of the survey.

The home charger would be installed either in your garage or on an outside wall of your property, near to where you park your vehicle and connected to your main electricity supply.

How quickly can I have my home charger installed?

Elmtronics aim to install within seven days after confirmation has been made. Simply book a morning or afternoon appointment with the Elmtronics home charge team.

Do you need a qualified electrician to install the charge point?

Yes. Elmtronics are fully trained and qualified electricians who are certified by OLEV.

Do I need private off street parking?

You only need private off street parking to qualify for the OLEV grant.

However, should you wish to install a home charger and not claim the OLEV grant, you can have the charge point installed anywhere, subject to terms and conditions.

Can I claim the OLEV grant for a used vehicle?

Yes, the grant is based on the date you bought the vehicle not the year the vehicle was first registered.

How do I know if my vehicle qualifies?

To check if your vehicle qualifies for the OLEV grant visit: www.elmtronics.co.uk/olev-qualification/eligable-evs/

RAPID CHARGING (DC) CCS (Combined Charging System) Adapted by European manufacturers such as BMW, Jaguar & Volkswagen as the standard for rapid charging. Rapid chargers have the cables attached to the units (rather like a petrol pump so need for a rapid charger cable to be carried on the vehicle. The CCS gets its name from combining the type2 AC charging standard with two rapid charging pins.

CHA-de-MO A rapid charging only connection, popular with Asian vehicles including Nissan & Mitsubishi. The electric highway in the UK, which is a network of rapid chargers at every service station in the UK , has rapid charging standards.

08

THE ELECTRIC NEWS There was 132,345 alternative fuel cars sold in the UK in 2018, this was up by 22% since 2017, some may think this was a slow start but if you look at the diesel decline figure the alternative fuel industry is growing in the right way and we hope during 2019 we see this grow even further - Diesel year on year is down by 29.8%. *Source SMMT. December 2018

OUR TAKE ON THE TOP 5 ELECTRIC CARS OF 2018!

1

2 3

BMW 530E - puts the sparkle back into the 5-series while offering terrific comfort, tech and refinement Jaguar i-pace - exceptional interior quality and a striking design that’s slightly more SUV than saloon.

Tesla Model X - offering the luxury of a Range Rover Sport with the green credentials of an electric car.

4

5

Nissan LEAF- increased power and torque makes the Leaf more engaging to drive, and it is practical enough for small families to use as their main mode of transport.

Golf GTE - offers a competitive range, decent equipment along with its impressive space and driving dynamics.

MERCEDES‑BENZ DELIVERS ITS FIRST eCitaro ELECTRIC BUS! Mercedes-Benz, are leading the way in the Europe bus market and have developed a vehicle viable for the future. Hamburger Hochbahn AG, which operates around 1000 buses on 111 lines in Hamburg, placed an order for 20 eCitaro buses and it says that it “intends to purchase nothing but emission-free buses” starting in 2020.

2019 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID AWD-I REVEALED Featuring an extra electric motor that can send power to the rear wheels of the car!

KIA’S NEW E-NIRO EV IN UK FROM APRIL 2019!

The new all-electric model is equipped with a high capacity 64kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack paired with a 201hp (150kw) motor, producing an impressive 395Nm of torque.

The world’s biggest trial of commercial electric vehicles has been given the green light by energy regulator Ofgem, to launch early 2019.

The trial which is titled ‘Optimise Prime' will bring together leading power, technology, fleet and transport companies to test and implement the best approaches to the EV roll-out for commercial enterprises.

With businesses buying 58% of all new vehicles in the UK, it will be commercial vehicles that determine the speed of the transition to low carbon transport.

This three-year innovation project will come up with practical ways of overcoming the up-front costs that are currently holding back many of the country's biggest commercial vehicle operators from making the switch to EVs. Led by global data technology solutions provider, Hitachi Vantara and electricity distributor, UK Power Networks, the trial will see up to 3,000 electric vehicles from Centrica, Uber and a large UK depot-based parcel carrier take to the road. Supported by distributor Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, Hitachi Europe and Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions.

Network operators, meanwhile, need to get a better understanding of the impact of commercial EVs on the country’s electricity grid. They are also looking to understand whether these vehicles can support the electricity network and help keep costs low for customers, by discharging during peak times and recharging off-peak.

Following a programme design and build phase, the first Optimise Prime vehicles will be on the road during the second half of 2019. The test area will include a range of urban, suburban and rural scenarios across the South East, South Central and East of England.

To help the wider industry prepare, the largest cross-industry datasets on commercial EV charging and use, will be shared openly.

Source: NETWORK https://networks.online/

09

GREENFLEET AWARDS 2018: EV CHAMPIONS Massive Congratulations to Sara Sloman, North Somerset Council and Sathish Sethuraman, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust who grabbed two of the five EV Champion Awards from the GreenFleet annual Awards 2018.

Elmtronics have been privileged to work with and continue to work with Sara and Sathish in supplying, installing and maintaining their EV Charging network.

Every day, Sara and Sathish champion the uptake of electric vehicles within and outside of their own organisations. They both use their experiences and knowledge, to help others achieve their own EV goals.

We are immensely elated for you both and so proud to have been a part of your journey!

Sara Sloman “I am beyond honoured. EV Champion 2018. Thank you, GreenFleet Awards”.

Pictured caption left to right Sathish Sethuraman, Sara Sloman and Comedian and Presenter Tom Allen

ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR Massive congratulations to Hyundai who snapped up the award for ‘Electric Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year’ at the GreenFleet Annual Awards 2018.

This award was sponsored by Elmtronics.

Hyundai was, recognised for its cutting-edge Kona Electric and IONIQ electric models.

The latest Hyundai IONIQ Electric has a larger battery pack without sacrificing boot space and the ecologically sensitive materials in the cabin add to its green credentials. The pure electric variant of the Ioniq has a potential range of 174 miles. Hyundai’s other pure EV offering, the Kona SUV, comes in a 39kWh version, which manages up to 194 miles on the WLTP cycle, and a 64kWh version which extends the range to 300 miles.

Pictured caption left to right Comedian and Presenter Tom Allen, Michael Stewart , Director of Fleet at Hyundai Motor UK, Dan Martin, CEO of Elmtronics, Tim White, National Fleet Sales Manager at Hyundai Motor UK.

Hubsta Event coming soon...Watch out for more details in the next issue!

10

“DON’T TALK TO ME ABOUT WLTP!” the WLTP data for tax purposes until April 2020, even the interim data could see some cars face higher rates of tax.

Ultimately this means that company car drivers could potentially be penalised further for decisions they have already made.

Thankfully, Chris Grayling and his Treasury crew appear to have acknowledged the issue in the recent a Autumn Budget. My hope is that they deliver a long-term plan that supports the migration over to electrified vehicles and running a company vehicle less of a financial headache.

Firstly, for those who don’t know what WTLP stands for, it’s an automotive industry acronym for ‘The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure’ (WLTP). A new emissions testing rule that has replaced the outgoing New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). It is designed to be more accurate and to capture CO2 emissions and fuel consumption of new cars on proper roads in real life conditions. For the whole industry this will prove to be a positive step and can only repair a fractured relationship of trust between the major car manufacturers and their customers.

For those within the industry 2018 will be a year to forget, for a number of reasons. One, dare I say it, the effect of BREXIT and two because of this whole WTLP saga. The new emission figures so far have broadly been different compared to the NEDC figures, this changeover has pushed some cars into higher tax brackets than they were previously stated. Worryingly this has severely affected the supply of certain new vehicles coming through, forcing companies to either extend the lease of their current vehicles, as either the lead times have slipped, or the production has all but ground to a halt. Leaving the leasing companies, brokers and dealer groups to pick up the pieces…What a mess!!!

Over recent years industry experts together with operators have invested a huge amount of time analysing data, updating company car policies and implementing banding structures. Work has also gone into ensuring that the balance between WLC (whole life cost), BIK and the CO2 emissions were all in harmony to ultimately reduce the costs of running their fleets.

In several communications from the Government, they have confirmed that they will be holding off on using

Simon Tate Head of Sales Elmtronics

My hope is that they deliver a long-term plan that supports the migration over to electrified vehicles...

THE NEW ALL-ELECTRIC I-PACE

STRAY FROM THE PACK.

The new I-PACE. Jaguar’s first all-electric performance SUV. 292 mile range.* Ground-breaking cab-forward design. Intelligent interior space. And underneath, 400PS that delivers 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds with zero tailpipe emissions. Not all cars follow the same pattern.

Contact us to book a test drive.

Westover Jaguar Barrack Road, Bailey Drive, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 2BN 01202 462222 westovergroup.co.uk/jaguar

A BREED APART

Fuel consumption: N/A. CO2 Emissions: 0 (g/km). EV Range: Up to 292 miles. *EV range figures are based upon production vehicle over a standardised route. Range achieved will vary dependent on vehicle and battery condition, actual route and environment and driving style.

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ELMTRONICS APPOINTS ‘HEAD OF SALES’ AS THE COMPANY EXPANDS IN 2018

From left to right; Simon Tate - Head of Sales, Emma Spark - Dealership Support Manager, Claire Askew - Home Charge Support Officer, Lisa Almond - Finance & Admin Officer

13 Elmtronics, electric vehicle charging specialists, have announced Simon Tate has joined the business, to further develop their growing portfolio of regional and national accounts. Simon comes with a wealth of experience within the industry, with 20 years’ experience of working within the vehicle leasing, and the fleet management market, helping and advising some of the UK’s largest fleet operators.

This is an exciting time for Elmtronics and the appointment comes at a time of vast growth in which the company.

As well as Simon coming on board, Elmtronics have taken on a further three staff to support the growth, Emma Spark to work the the dealerships on a national level for domestic charging. Claire Askew, to support all home charge enquiries and Lisa Almond who will look after accounts

and administration for the company.

Simon joins Elmtronics to continue recent success providing EV charging infrastructure to many of the top companies across the UK. Simon’s said. “I’m thrilled to be joining the Elmtronics family at this pivotal stage. I’m looking forward to being part of the future success, maintaining our desire to be the best electric vehicle charging infrastructure provider and installer in the UK. The outlook 2019 looks extremely positive, working closely with our existing customers is paramount, thus ensuring we’re listening and understanding the needs of all our new clients too. It’s vital that we’re focused on supporting everyone in their transition to electrified mobility with best in class products and service”.

Dan Martin, CEO of Elmtroinics said “Simon’s wealth of experience and industry knowledge has already made him a key addition to Elmtronics. We view his appointment as a sign of our commitment to be the leading EV Charging company in our industry.

Our new innovations and the increasing demand from our customers led us to look for an addition to our team who will fit in with our ethos of innovation and exceptional service, and it is very fortunate that we were able to find someone of Simon’s calibre to fulfil this role. I’m confident that Simon will play a key role in providing and implementing high quality solutions for our clients.” www.elmtronics.co.uk

14 Review by Victoria Lewis Washington, Tyne and Wear

TESLA MODEL S & X REVIEW Are Tesla leading the way with the electric vehicle?

Well I wasn’t so sure but when the Model S and X turned up outside our offices, I was a little star-struck.

The model S is a much sportier looking car than the model X but they both have something different to offer.

Both Models come equipped with a massive battery pack and a 17-inch portrait touch-screen that, dominates the dashboard and replaces the physical buttons.

The touch screen allows you to handle everything from the hands-free phone and audio to the navigation or climate control. The size of the touch-screen makes it easier to navigate around making this in my opinion less distracting than competitors’ systems. You can also control certain aspects of the car via the steering wheel or by using voice control.

The seats are comfortable giving you a smooth ride overall, and packing a 300-mile range this car would make the perfect long-distance journey.

There’s one thing the Model X has that no other vehicle has –now if you haven’t experienced this yet, you must, the Tesla puts on quite a show. If you are not onvinced after test driving the Tesla, that this is the car for you imagine those annoying neighbours, you could irritate with a ‘Tesla celebration every night’, gets my vote!

Onto the driving experience, once you get over how much space you have inside the car, the Tesla feels like a bubble on the road, letting you take in the scenery around you with its very clear panoramic roof. The only difference with both models when driving them is the Model S feels sportier, so you have the feeling you are closer to the ground like any other sports model.

The Tesla handles the road like a dream, this is mainly due to its large battery pack giving it that extra weight but on top of this the steering doesn’t feel so heavy for such a large car. Being electric the Tesla’s have the ability to reach 62mph in under three seconds but have plenty torque to play around with once you achieve your desired speed. Like all other electric cars, the drive is quiet and peaceful allowing you to enjoy your journey.

Need seven seats? Well the Model X will surely be the car for you, although having all seven seats in the car will have its limitations, the leg and headroom limits with the more seats added, the more practical option for me would be choosing six seats, this would give passengers more leg room and more space so not feeling claustrophobic when every seat is taken.

Overall, I loved both Models of the Tesla, if I had to choose I’d probably pick the S Model but I don’t have a family to drive around. The one thing the model S doesn’t have, that I loved is the falcon doors but otherwise would snap someone’s hands off to drive this car everyday!

A DRIVE YOU’LL FALL IN LOVE WITH

16

DOES THE WEATHER AFFECT ELECTRIC VEHICLE PERFORMANCE? In truth, yes. All cars including petrol, diesel and electric have lower fuel efficiencies at colder temperatures which will decrease the distance the vehicle can travel without refuelling. Due to some electric vehicles (EVs) having a lower range than most petrol/diesel vehicles, there are more considerations to make when choosing an EV. Saying this, current EV models are dealing better with the cold weather and will continue to improve as more and more models are released.

How does the cold weather affect the vehicles?

So, in cold weather all vehicles decreases in efficiency. Factors like cold engine oil and vehicles sitting around longer for gasoline vehicles in cold conditions can reduce the fuel economy by around approximately 20%. Overall electric vehicles can be more efficient due to its electric motor it works as it turns stored electricity into motion rather than an internal combustion engine is converting the chemical energy of petrol/diesel to mechanical energy.

There are many factors to consider when comparing a petrol/diesel engine to an electric motor. If you think about a petrol/diesel engine and an electric motor, they both lose energy through heating the vehicle, but where the EV wins is the gasoline engine also loses energy through the tailpipe and the vehicles radiator. Batteries in EVs have lower performance as the temperature dips due to the impact of the temperature on mobility of electrons through the battery. To keep the performance at a high and reduce accelerated

aging of the battery, many EVs have a thermal management system built in which means the battery is kept warm through cold conditions and cold during warm periods.

Does your range anxiety heighten during cold condition?

Let’s put this anxiety to bed, yes your range can reduce during the cold periods especially on shorter journeys but only by approximately 10%, around 2-3 miles – which in reality is not a lot!

Simon Brown Technical Manager Elmtronics Limited Passionate about expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure, Elmtronics will support you every step of the way.

Electric cars do work in the cold. Their driving range decreases in the cold, as is the case for all cars - because of physics.

However, they still function fine, and you can also pre-heat many EVs!

NEW REGULATIONS FOR EV CHARGING IN THE UK 18th Edition Regulations update - January 1st 2019. New years Day.

ulation 722.512.2.203 referring to Impact protection of a medium Severity of AG2.

A lot People will be nursing hangovers and trying to strike up the energy to face New years day filled with more Alcoholic Beverages. It is time for people to also set new year’s resolutions that are usually broken within the week, but this date is significant for Electricians throughout the UK and that is because of the new BS7671 18th Edition, updated Electrical regulations. There is a lot of changes from the previous 17th Edition but we are just going to focus on the section that matters to us. That is Section 722 of the Special locations for electric vehicle charging.

Plain English Answer and Easy Solution: Three options here for this one that you can use: • Use a position of the equipment as to avoid damage from any foreseeable impact • Provide barriers or wheel bump matts to avoid striking the unit.

• Charger manufacturer to manufacture unit with an impact rating of at least IK07 in accordance with BS EN62262

What we are going to do here is just look at the four main changes that have been implemented to this section that affect EV charger installs.

Point 1 – No PME Allowed.

In the previous 17th Edition amendment 3 regulation 722.411.4.1 contained a sentence stating that: “The requirements of this regulation need not be applied for the charging point at a dwelling, if none of (i), (ii) or (iii) is reasonably practicable. In this regulation, dwelling means self-contained unit designed to accommodate a single household.”

The above sentence has been removed from the new 18th Edition.

Plain English Answer and Easy Solution: Any new installations of EV charging equipment being supplied from a TNC-S (PME) source either needs to be converted to TT or the PME earthing supply isolated from the charging equipment and an independent Earth Electrode Installed. Making sure this Earth Electrode is below 100Ω to allow notably the Renault Zoe to charge without any issues. The resistance in certain areas of the country can bring a challenge to achieve this 100Ω or less.

At Elmtronics we have been using a soil conditioning product called bentonite to bring this within reasonable range. With domestic premises the chance of hitting underground services while installing the electrode also increases. CAT scans will be advisable to reduce this risk.

POINT 2 – HOW TOUGH IS THE CHARGING EQUIPMENT The 18th Edition sees the introduction of reg-

POINT 3 – TYPE A OR TYPE B RCD’S In the outgoing 17th edition the following sentence was used in regulation 722.531.2.101: “The RCD protecting the charging point shall be at least a type A RCCB complying with BS EN 61008-1 or RCBO complying with BS EN 61009-1. If it is know that the DC component of the residual current exceeds 6mA then a type B RCD complying with BS EN 62423 shall be installed” This has now been changed to the following: “Each Charging point incorporating a socket-outlet or vehicle connector complying with the BS EN 62196 series, protective measures against DC fault current shall be taken, except where provided by the EV charging equipment.

The appropriate measures, for each connection point, shall be as follows: -RCD Type B; or - RCD Type A and appropriate equipment that provides disconnection of the supply in the case of DC fault current above 6mA” Plain English Answer and Easy Solution: Basically, the way it was worded in the 17th edition gave everyone a free pass to say that it was not know if the DC component exceeded 6mA so Type A RCCB’s where fitted as to the extortionately expensive Type B version.

The new wording now clearly states that DC fault current protection is required no matter what, but there are two options: 1. Fit a Type B RCCB which comes with its own challenges of trying to explain what one is to a lot of wholesalers as they are so uncommon (I had same problem with Type A when we started up 6 year ago when they where not so common). Also, the fact that one RCCB will take up a good proportion of your wholesaler credit limit as they are ridiculous expensive.

This is not going to help the EV industry thrive as it will increase install costs dramatically.

2. Check with the charger manufacturer. It is more cost effect for the charger manufacturer to develop the 6ma DC fault current protection into their circuit boards of the chargers and fit a type A RCCB as normal. This will be the most common route I believe that will be taken.

POINT 4 – CHARGING ON A STANDARD THREE PIN SOCKET. Regulation 722.55.101.0.201.1 a slight amendment has been issued in point (i) stating: “One socket-outlet complying with BS 1363-2 marked ‘EV’ on its rear and, except where there is no possibility of confusion, a label shall be provided on the front face or adjacent to the socket-outlet or its enclosure stating: ‘Suitable for electric vehicle charging’ “ Plain English Answer and Easy Solution: The socket in use should be a single outlet marked with EV on the back next to BS 1363-2 so this will need to be checked with the socket manufacturer to see if the socket complies. It will also need to be marked up with a label stating its suitability for electric vehicle charging and should be installed as you would install a standard EV charger.

My opinion on 3 pin socket outlets being used for EV charging is there is two much confusion and they should not be used. Along with the prolonged heat build up on a socket that was not designed for this use and the unknow of the quality of the circuit and load on the current circuit you are plugging into it is a recipe for disaster. It may be a cheaper option but if disaster strikes it will cost a lot more in the long run not just financially but potentially in the form of life if a fire should start due to an ageing, overloaded or poor installation.

Whether we agree with these regulation changes or not they are set and here to stay for the foreseeable future and any installer should follow them to allow there installs to be safe and compliant from January 1st onwards so these will be one New years resolution that any EV charger installer cannot break.

Anthony Piggott Technical Director Elmtronics

18

COULD YOU MAKE A CLEAN FLEET COMMITMENT? BT have offer upto 3,000 staff the option to swap their company vehicle over to an EV!

More than a third (35%) of fleet managers expect to use electric vehicles (EVs) in the next five years, but the majority doubt the suitability of such models for long-haul journeys or transporting heavy goods.

56%

of fleet managers believe fully or hybrid electric vehicles will be the most widely used fuel type beyond diesel / petrol in ten years’ time. claim they have a specific strategy in place for their entire fleet to be compliant (with January 2020 emissions regulations).

66%

86% Source: Operational Fleet Insight Report 2018

believe monetary incentives or grants would have a positive impact on the uptake of alternatively-fuelled vehicles.

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• Full electric vans • Tippers • Lutons • Dropside • Available for immediate delivery •120 Miles Range • 1.5 Hours (80%) Fully Charged High-capacity Lithium Ion Battery • 56 kW battery • 92 kW Motor • Charge plug, CCS combo / type 2

myldv.co.uk Visit our website for your nearest Electric Vehicle Dealer.

Franchise opportunities available.

Images depicted are for illustration purposes only and may not be the exact model.

THE NEW TX ...COULD A TAXI GET ANY BETTER!

BRILLIANT EQUIPMENT. BRILLIANTLY ENGINEERED. AND BRILLIANT TO DRIVE The TX, LEVC’s new taxi, combines the company’s expertise as a manufacturer of urban commercial vehicles with proven electric vehicle technology and the latest in advanced material manufacturing.

The TX uses eCity technology which combines a small petrol generator (known as a “range-extender”) with a class leading battery and proven electric powertrain. The eCity platform will give drivers a range of up to 377 miles. This ensures that taxi drivers, who operate extremely variable shifts always know that they can get their passengers where they need to go. However, the 80-mile pure electric range is more than adequate for most driver’s average day at work in the city.

Over 1,000 drivers across the UK have now made the switch to electric vehicles – in part because the switch to an electric taxi saves cab drivers on average £110 a week in fuel.

Whilst on a PCP contract the vehicle will cost £177 per week, which compares with £167 per week for the outgoing diesel vehicle.

Further cost savings come from service intervals that jump from 12,000 miles to 25,000 miles, while the TX is quicker to repair resulting in less downtime.

As well as the more premium feel, passengers will notice less vibration and noise in the passenger cabin, alongside charging points for mobile phones, Wi-fi and additional space for six passengers. All occupants will also benefit from world-class active and passive safety systems which will help to protect both the vehicle and other road users too.

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QUORUM BUSINESS PARK INTRODUCE FAST PUBLIC EV CHARGING BY INSTALLING TWO DUAL EVE CHARGERS. Quorum Business Park is a large, award winning commercial property development located in Newcastle, home to over 30 businesses who employ around 6000 staff. The site itself contains over 1 million square feet of cutting-edge office space and retail outlets, with excellent transport links and on-site amenities.

With the ever-increasing popularity of electric vehicles Quorum are taking the next steps to ensure its business park is ready for the future. The business park will have two dual Eve 22 Kw fast chargers installed allowing four vehicles to charge at any one time. These chargers will be open to the business owners and the public to use when on site. The talk of having these chargers installed has already sparked interest from other business owners at Quorum and we are already receiving enquiries for their own chargers to be installed.

The fast chargers installed on Quorum should hopefully encourage more people to purchase or lease electric vehicles or hybrids knowing they can now successfully charge at work.

Laura McVittie, Commuter Centre Manager at Quorum said, “Promoting green travel to the tenants and their employees is a key part of the parks ethos. Quorum has been a pioneer of electric vehicles with five private electric charge points already located within some of the tenant’s car parks and there is a growing number of electric car owners. We hope the fast publically available charge points will alleviate range anxiety and further encourage more people to switch to lower emission vehicles and we are planning an EV vehicle showcase in February”.

The charger installed on Quorum Business Park will also be connected to the Hubsta Network, that connects to over 55,000 Charge points worldwide with the network it’s never been easier to charge your electric vehicle or manage your EV charging using an app!

Anthony Piggott, Elmtronics Technical Director said, “We have launched Hubsta as an intelligent network to provide our customers a wider level of service, communication, which works for them it is managed and owned within the UK and allows customers to have full control over their charge point and data, enabling them and manage their EV fleet vehicles. Hubsta also allows the customer, the ability to remotely log in and manage each charge point in real time, making the control and audit of their fleet an essential part of their EV infrastructure. We are now working with many customers to make the switch to the Hubsta network and we can only see this increasing over the next few months, as more and more customers see the benefit”.

Customers now wishing to use the charge points across Quorum Business Park can now register with Hubsta via the Hubsta app using a smartphone or online at – www.hubsta.co.uk.

Smart driving. Zero Emissions

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T: 0191 691 0889 E: enquiries@quorumbp.co.uk www.quorumbusiness.co.uk

Grade A High Quality Office Space

QUORUM IS HOME TO OVER 6,000 STAFF AND A HOST OF LEADING BUSINESSES. EXCELLENT ON SITE AMENITIES MAKE QUORUM

A FIRST CLASS WORKING ENVIRONMENT

ELECTRIC CHARGE

Contract hire and leasing for personal or business use Get in touch Telephone: 0845 148 3012 Email: sales@rosedaleleasing.com www.rosedaleleasing.com

Electric Vehicle Charging Solutions

info@elmtronics.co.uk