EV Magazine - April 2023

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THE LATEST UPDATES AND RECEIVE EV NEW INSIGHTS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

TOM SWALLOW

MANAGING EDITOR NEIL PERRY

CONTENT OFFICER SCOTT BIRCH

DESIGN OFFICER MATT JOHNSON

GRAPHIC DESIGNER SAM HUBBARD

DIRECTOR

THOMAS LIVERMORE

MANAGER KAYLEIGH SHOOTER CEO

GLEN WHITE

CHIEF

CHIEF

VIDEO PRODUCTION MANAGER KIERAN WAITE

PROJECT

MARKETING

WELCOME

EMBRACING THE POWER OF ELECTRIC

The majority of the industry—and those beyond it—are aware of the sustainable and commercial benefits of electrification, so now It’s time to take a breath and bring some excitement into the conversation.

Following Amazon’s earlier launch of autonomous vehicles, the idea of the robotaxi starts to seem a lot more… real. To find out more, one of NVIDIA’s own, Tim Wong, shares his experiences in the passenger seat of an all-electric, computer-driven car.

The next piece of the electrified puzzle is charging, but in a way that’s driven by nature’s design, which is where SolarBotanic’s concept really sheds light on renewable charging options.

To really feel the power and determine whether battery-electric solutions are feasible for motorcycle racing, we meet Nicolas Goubert, who reassures us that the racing spectacle will be retained throughout the MotoE World Cup.

After all, we’ll need to learn to love life with EVs, so why not start now?

TOM SWALLOW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF tom.swallow@bizclikmedia.com

UP FRONT

024

COVER STORY

MotoE: Electrifying motorcycles retaining the racing spectacle

FEATURES

034 CONNECTED CAR

User experience differentiates vehicles in a digital era

042 CHARGING & INFRASTRUCTURE

A natural way to charge electric vehicles

050 FLEET & COMMERCIAL

Transitioning fleets made easier with EV readiness planning

058 MOBILITY

Robotaxis: Mastering the miracle of safe travel

068 TOP TEN

Fastest-growing businesses to support e-mobility

STILL SCEPTICAL DRIVERLESS DRIVERLESS

It’s not as if the driver will be gone completely…it’ll simply be faster acting, more informed, and more attentive than the average human driver.

Having heard varying opinions about autonomous vehicles from the general public versus those behind the scenes of major self-driving innovations, it’s understandable to see polarised views of A-EVs as viable mobility solutions.

The question we have for the innovators is: how can you educate consumers and give them faith in A-EVs?

Well, one of the biggest advocates from NVIDIA will provide his humble and experienced opinion – both as a member of the technology community and as a consumer and father. Without the backing of the users, the benefits of autonomy won’t be truly realised.

SCEPTICAL ABOUT

DRIVERLESS CARS?

DRIVERLESS CARS?

MATCHING EVS CHARGER CONNECTORS

It’s almost like learning to drive again: figuring out which type of fuel to put in the car, what the different grades mean, and how to make sure it actually fills up as intended. For any EV driver, it would be a frustrating event to return to a car after a period of charging only to realise the current never left the charger.

There are various different aspects for new EV drivers to learn, including how to find the right chargers, understand the costs involved with charging, and ensuring compatibility—which is why we want to talk about plugs. Part of the lesson comes from previous discussions about charger types (AC and DC) but also the connection used to hook up to a juice box.

The most common types of charging connectors (plugs) include:

• Type 1

• Type 2

• CHAdeMO

• CCS Combo Type 1

• CCS Combo Type 2

The Type 1 charger is more commonly used for AC charging at home in the US and in the older model Nissan Leaf, while Type 2 is the standard AC plug for cars in Europe.

EVS TO CONNECTORS

For those looking to charge in a flash, the combined charging system (CCS) connectors are used for this. With two different types, this combines either the Type 1 charger with DC charging capability, or Type 2 with DC function. The CHAdeMO socket is also DC-enabled and, along with the CCS Combo Type 1, is used primarily in the US. In Europe, the CHAdeMO is also used for DC charging, as well as a CCS Combo Type 2.

For a lot of drivers who own Teslas, they will have priority plugs for Tesla Superchargers with the optional adapters to connect to other units across the globe.

CODENAME ‘V21L’

DUCATI’S CU T TING-EDGE ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE

DUCATI’S CU T TING-EDGE

ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE

The chosen machine for MotoE in 2023, the Ducati electric motorcycle prototype will pave the way for two-wheeled electrified Ducati motors in the future

Every motorsport needs the latest and greatest technology, but this motorcycle for the MotoE World Cup packs all the influential electrical systems into the lightest, most powerful body yet.

The Ducati prototype, given the codename ‘V21L’, was designed to break the boundaries of electric two-wheeled motorsport. In doing so, the organisation has developed something revolutionary, which will be showcased in a 15-minute power race alongside the MotoGP series.

THE BATTERY

Weighing just 110 kg, the battery pack that has been used for the V21L prototype comprises 1,152 cylindrical cells and provides a capacity of 18 kWh with a 20 kW charging socket integrated into the rear of the motorcycle.

The liquid cooling system guarantees temperature regulation in extreme conditions, which is a critical factor for riding at high speeds in warmer climates across Europe—and globally in the future. As a result, the battery takes around 45 minutes to recharge to 80% of its range.

Supplying 18 bikes for the track, Ducati’s transition into electric motorcycle manufacturing starts here as the MotoE teams provide the ultimate showcase of its capabilities.

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT-GENERATION MOTOE MACHINE

The development process all took place under the watchful eye of one of the most prestigious brands in the world. The team at Ducati Corse, led by Marco Palmerini, was responsible for developing the electronic components and systems of the V21L, including the software strategies and controls. The team leveraged a whole host of data from the dynamics simulations and aerodynamics analysis to create the final bike.

THE BODY

Composed of carbon fibre and aluminium, the chassis of the vehicle is built to be lighter than ever before. The aluminium swingarm weighs 4.8kg and is designed to match the geometry of the Ducati Desmosedici racing in MotoGP.

THE POWER

In order to shift its total weight of 225 kg (plus the rider), the V21L is capable of a maximum power output of 110 kW— equivalent to 150 horsepower—and achieves a torque figure of 140 Nm. The weight of the bike is 12 kg less than the minimum required by the Dorna Sport and the FIM for MotoE races.

From a design perspective, this work was carried out by Centro Stile Ducati, and was inspired by and created for the MotoE race. The team was also involved in delivering the Ducati-branded livery.

Not only does this motorcycle represent a new era for electrification at the company, but also hails a new way of working, as various teams collaborated, resulting in an EV that will shape motorsport and its future commercial market endeavours.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:

SARA SLOMAN

At EV Magazine LIVE, Sara Sloman took to the stage to debunk some of the questions around mobility and how digital payments factor into transport evolution

Thanks to the team at BizClik and a great cast of speakers at EV Magazine LIVE, we were able to host a positive, future-driven show with a lot of buy-in from the in-person attendees as well as the global virtual audience.

After the panel discussion ‘Mobility: Electrification begins with EV infrastructure’, we caught up with Sara Sloman, Chief Strategy Officer at Paythru to find out more about a relatively underrepresented field of business and customer experience in the EV sector.

While the focus on payments is evolving as cars become more capable of interacting with chargers through connected car services, the next step seems to be to simplify the experience. This means making EVs do the work and leave drivers to focus on the more important things.

PAYMENT IS CRITICAL IN THE DAILY USE OF AN EV. WHY?

The payment experience is such a critical part of the charging experience because if you can't get the payment to happen, then the charger will not function. Those signals won't be sent back and forth in the right way, so the poor consumer won't be able to access that charger. Really, the secret to it is about making sure it's flexible.

So, this means choosing a partner who can deliver you a multi-platform payment solution. I myself as an EV driver have been screaming at charge points before just to take my money. I don't need anything fancy; I just need you to give me the electricity so I can be on my way.

That means leveraging RFID, where you swipe on the physical card. It can be something like a QR code that connects you to the Internet or, from the majority of

consumers, a contactless payment card is absolutely fine. We need to make sure that as a chargepoint operator, you're offering multiple payments makes it so much easier for the consumer. And a nice app, an app that's great to use.

We also allow the chargepoint operators to set that tariff. So the driver knows precisely what they're paying for.

HOW WILL PAYMENTS LOOK WHEN CARS CAN DO THIS FOR THEIR DRIVERS?

I think it’s incredibly exciting. This is where something like payments, which is an invisible process that you really think about, becomes very physical and very real. I remember the first time I saw a Tesla being charged and the driver simply plugged the Tesla in. Now how that works behind the scenes is the vehicle uses an individual identifier.

So the charger and the vehicle can talk to each other in a bidirectional way. They called it ISO 15118—a bidirectional data communication protocol. But why it's exciting to us as consumers is it means that you don't have to do anything, you know the car is going to consume the energy that it needs.

You know how much it's going to cost you and you will receive one bill directly or to your employer to pay for it. So there's no faffing involved. There's no apps or RFID, or anything that you need a whole swathe of in our country or across the continent. We will see this become a more streamlined process.

SO, HOW DID PAYTHRU MOBILITY COME ABOUT?

I'm so proud to be part of PayThru. I came across them about a year ago. They've branched out into the EV charging space and, before that, they were around for 14 years as a payment service provider. I like to think of this as a gateway to payments: you use us to make sure that money is sent to the right place, whether that's an energy company, the charge point operator itself, or between you as consumers. It's all done seamlessly, completely behind the scenes.

We weren't born out of anything else. That's exactly what we're here to do. So we're working with global partners to work out how we can wrap in things with our payments to multimodal mobility. And that's where the excitement really comes for me as a car driver, I know that people will want to utilise different modes of travel.

WHAT CAPABILITIES DO BUSINESSES WANT TO HAVE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR?

I think they're looking much further ahead than that.

We have out-of-the-box solutions that can help you get off the ground as a charge point operator. But that's not what I'm looking for; I'm looking for somebody who has the same ambition as us to grow sustainably and serve the consumer.

I call us ‘your invisible growth partner’. People are looking to 2030, when the end of the internal combustion engine hits, and worrying about what's going to happen to them. How are they going to charge these cars? Where are they going to charge these cars? The ideal partner, for me, is somebody that has a charge point that operates on a global scale and wants a partner that can grow with them.

"WE HAVE OUT-OF-THE-BOX SOLUTIONS THAT CAN HELP YOU GET OFF THE GROUND AS A CHARGE POINT OPERATOR"

DID YOU KNOW DID YOU KNOW

A HEALTHIER WAY TO TRAVEL

RIDING AN ELECTRIC SCOOTER FOR 30 MINUTES AT 4.6 MPH CAN BURN AROUND 150 TO 200 CALORIES.

THIS NOT ONLY MAKES E-SCOOTERS GOOD FOR THE PLANET, BUT ALSO FOR THE PEOPLE.

“THE SOLAR INDUSTRY IS WELL ENTRENCHED, AND THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE ROOFTOP SOLAR HAS REACHED CAPACITY”

HARRY CORRIGAN EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, SOLARBOTANIC TREES

WHAT DO CONSUMERS SAY ABOUT THE EV DRIVING EXPERIENCE?

There are many factors to consider from the consumer perspective, particularly when it’s impacted by the changing of various lifestyle factors in 2023.

Shifting over to EVs most certainly takes some forethought, but consumers are slowly coming round to the idea with recent costof-living fluctuations. When you then consider the work-from-home revolution and successful trials for a four-day working week, it’s highly likely that people will change the way they use their cars.

Some would argue that flexible working is here to stay and could determine driver habits, with less time commuting but more time travelling for recreational purposes.

“GREEN ‘EARLY ADOPTERS’, WHOSE MAIN DRIVERS ARE ENVIRONMENTAL, ARE BEING JOINED BY MAINSTREAM CAR BUYERS WHO ARE INFLUENCED BY THE PULL EFFECT”

RANDY MILLER

EY GLOBAL ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND MOBILITY LEADER

WHAT DEFINES EV LUXURY?

You could say there is no clear definition of a luxury vehicle. Historically, though, a luxury car has been defined by its increased levels of comfort, superior built-in equipment, performance, and the overall aesthetics of the vehicle.

When it comes to EVs, where does the luxury threshold begin? More cars are fitted with superior equipment than their predecessors, digital systems make them much more comfortable in general and easier to drive. The luxury definition of the EV may be the result of unique design principles and innovative interiors.

“60% OF ALL ACCIDENTS AND PROPERTY DAMAGE IN LA LAST YEAR WERE DUE TO DISTRACTED DRIVING”

TIM WONG TECHNICAL MARKETING FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES LEAD, NVIDIA DRIVE

UNDERSTANDING

EVs: BIDIRECTIONAL CHARGING

Say you wanted to turn your home into its own microgrid. Bidirectional charging, also known as V2G or V2H, is the system that helps integrate an EV, while also allowing it to charge other items such as phones, other cars, and electric bikes—it could even power a camping trip.

It’s the ability to transfer electricity to and from the car. For example, home charging could be reversed, meaning the energy used to power a car can be returned to the home grid to make use of the energy where it is needed most.

The benefit to bidirectional charging is smart. Smart in a sense that energy usage can be adjusted depending on the driver’s habits, but also to leverage the optimal times for charging. If a car charges overnight, the cost is calculated based on the overnight tariff. When the energy from the car is directed back into a home, cheaper energy is used.

Owning an EV with bidirectional charging capabilities is effectively like having a mobile energy storage unit with further applications in your daily life.

From a trade perspective, utilising energy from a vehicle provides them with on-the-go power for tools and equipment required on the job.

Examples of cars with bidirectional charging capabilities:

• Nissan Leaf

• Hyundai Ioniq 5

• Ford F-150

• Kia EV6

MotoELECTRIFYING MOTORCYCLES ELECTRIFYING MOTORCYCLES

RETAINING RACING

ELECTRIFYING MOTORCYCLES

ELECTRIFYING MOTORCYCLES

RETAINING THE RACING SPECTACLE

Motorcycle racing is not for the faint-hearted, but electrification need not be a scary prospect. MotoE combines them, maintaining the essence of MotoGP

BY TOM SWALLOW

ow do you know when you’ve really put a machine through its paces? Is it by its willingness to reach the finish line or the battle it goes through to get there—racing to the end at full power?

This is really what MotoGP is all about: testing the limits of motorcycles and their riders in gruelling races, from full-throttle to high-speed endurance. The caveat is the fuel type.

Unfortunately for motorsport fans, the current era of transition means that some of the things they love about motorcycle racing are set to change. While MotoGP is working to eliminate carbon from the motorsport, MotoE represents an era of electrified, twowheel performance.

The electrified motorsport has expanded over time with a new race added to its calendar each year since its launch in 2018. What’s even more exciting is that MotoGP spectators get to witness the 15-minute power surge of a race alongside the traditional sporting scenes, allowing them to see first hand how electrification performs on the track.

The organisers of MotoE, Dorna Sports set out to incorporate electric motorcycles over four years ago and the organisation’s current MotoE Executive Director, Nicolas Goubert, played an instrumental role in the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) bringing all-electric racing to the championships.

“MotoE being part of MotoGP is as if Formula E was part of Formula One,” says Goubert. “We started only four years ago, but we are a growing discipline, just a lot smaller.”

DUCATI: BRINGING A NEW ERA OF ELECTRIC TO MotoGP

The latest bike to be used for MotoE is the Ducati V21L, designed for racing as well as providing critical data and innovation to develop high-quality, high-performance electric motorcycles for the commercial market.

The team set out to meet Dorna Sports’ performance requirements as it continues to elevate its game and provoke continued excitement among teams and spectators. The previously-used motorcycle from Energica weighed around 260kg, but the V21L reduces this further to 225kg.

The V21L is the name given to the prototype vehicle, marking the first ever electric motorcycle to be made by Ducati, sporting 110kW of power—equivalent to 150 hp—and 140 Nm of torque at the rear wheel.

PARTNERING WITH THE ‘FERRARI’ OF THE MOTORCYCLE WORLD: DUCATI

The motorsport uses 100% electric bikes, charged on the track via battery-storage solutions to allow on-demand power to the racing teams. These charging systems have been used to power and support the racing of electric motorcycles built by Energica, but in 2023, MotoE is adopting a brand new bike.

Built by Ducati, the V21L is a testament to electrified performance, which leverages the 100% torque of battery-powered propulsion and is lighter in weight in comparison to MotoE’s previous weapon of choice.

“From this season, we’ll be using Ducati, which is to the motorcycle world what Ferrari is to the four-wheeled world,” says Gouberg.

BEING PART

MotoGP

E

“MotoE BEING PART OF MotoGP IS AS IF FORMULA E WAS PART OF FORMULA ONE”

“The brand has been there for many years and is very famous in racing. It has always been involved with petrol-engine bikes.

“For Ducati, the clear objective is to develop their know-how to put electric bikes on the market in the short term. Short term meaning they don’t exactly know whether it will be four, five, even six years.”

TAKING SUSTAINABLE MOTORCYCLES GLOBAL

Sustainable motorsports are gaining traction among sustainability-conscious spectators, but MotoE is not like other motorsports. Dorna Sports aims for electric motorcycle racing to focus more on the racing spectacle and formatting the race around the machine.

What this means for the fans is a 15-minute burst of excitement from fully charged electric motorcycles, which has been strategically organised to allow riders to fight to the very end. This retains the true essence of motorcycle daredevilry while showcasing Dorna Sports’ sustainable partnerships, including that of Enel X—the provider of sustainable mobile power solutions to charge the bikes.

“MotoE

OF

IS AS IF FORMULA

WAS PART OF FORMULA ONE”

NICOL AS GOUBERT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, M oto E

CATCH THE LATEST UPDATES AND RECIEVE EV NEWS INSIGHTS

“They’re very much involved in electric mobility, so they have chargers in many places,” says Goubert. “Enel X developed specific chargers for us so we don’t have any problems connecting them to the track network.

“Imagine you arrive with 20 bikes at the same time and you want to charge them fast. You need more power than what’s available on any track in the world.”

Enel X recognised the high energy demand of electric motorsport and devised a solution that would allow all bikes to be charged anywhere in the world.

Leveraging its pioneering ‘JuicePump’, Enel X devised a solution for racing that pulls energy from the grid to charge batteries, which is stored for charging the motorcycles.

ENEL X: JUICEPUMP SOLUTIONS TO KEEP EV s MOVING

As an organisation wholly committed to sustainable energy and applications, Enel X is focusing much of its attention on the future of electric mobility. In a commercial (real world) application, the JuicePump is designed to allow more vehicles to charge at the same time and can be installed in urban environments, such as shopping centres and local facilities.

Connectivity is also a major component of its charging infrastructure with GPRS, 3G, and 4G connectivity protocols, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LAN, and remote maintenance capabilities.

The JuicePump comes in two formats for commercial settings, including a 60kW model with two DC charging sockets, and a 150kW version with three DC & AC sockets.

M oto GP’S JOURNEY BUILDS SUSTAINABLE PA RTNERSHIPS

By 2024, MotoGP plans to use more sustainable fuel in its motorcycles, with the aim of reaching 100% sustainable fuels by 2027. In doing so, it will adopt a 40% non-fossil fuel specification in the interim to mark a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of the racing championship.

The fuel is known as ‘drop-in’ fuel, meaning it can be used as a direct replacement for conventional fuel and support the established motorcycle architecture.

One of MotoGP’s most critical partnerships is with the tyre maker Michelin, which is also aligned to its sustainability targets—along with all other stakeholders in the motorsport. The company is working to reduce the number of rear tyres used at each Grand Prix—saving 1,500 every season—while providing the same pioneering performance that is showcased by MotoGP.

Michelin is also working closely with the organisation to develop 100% sustainable tyres by 2050, which must live up to the expectations of the riders, and, ultimately, the spectators. An average of 40% sustainable materials is expected to be used by 2030.

BEFORE THE MotoE RACE STARTS, EACH RIDER COMPLETES A WARM-UP LAP OF THE TRACK, FOLLOWED BY A RECHARGE, ALLOWING THEM TO BEGIN THE RACE WITH A FULLY CHARGED BIKE

Much like its four-wheeled sister championships, MotoE is reinventing the way electrical technology and infrastructure is used to advance solutions for two-wheeled EVs. Not only does this play into the hands of its partners—planning and developing applicable products for the commercial market—but also adheres to the FIM’s sustainable trajectory for motorcycle racing.

But MotoE’s approach represents innovation from a more traditional application. As an example, Formula E showcases the reinvention of automotive, incorporating charging metrics to sustain the race and allow drivers to reach the finish line. On the other hand, MotoE is adopting solutions to provide the same racing experience with minimal disruption from

FACT: “ENEL X DEVELOPED SPECIFIC CHARGERS FOR US SO WE DON’T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS CONNECTING THEM TO THE TRACK NETWORK”

“ENEL X DEVELOPED SPECIFIC CHARGERS FOR US SO WE DON’T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS CONNECTING THEM TO THE TRACK NETWORK”

NICOL AS GOUBERT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, M oto E

DIFFERENTIATES USER EXPERIENCE

Sustainability is the key driver of electrification, but if the user experience isn’t right, will consumers still want to adopt electric vehicles?

The primary component of the automobile has been taken, right from underneath the bonnet.

Car companies now see electrification as the future, so gone will be the days when drivers get their automotive excitement from the engine’s sounds and the bellowing of smoke from the exhaust pipe.

So, what’s to stop cars all becoming the same? Over the years, the engine has been one of the major differentiators of a car, as well as the performance and the design, which have eloquently morphed into similarity. Mechanical components were shared among cars and the design elements were factored into new models and their followers.

But the attention of the digital era turns to the tech that is embedded in all functions of the vehicle, which is one of the reasons why the term ‘connected car’ fits so well. The demand among car owners is changing because their needs have evolved as have the vehicles. The in-vehicle experience remains one factor that is shared among passenger-car owners of old and new.

Besides this, the reasoning behind such a shift also comes from factors external to the businesses that provide them.

“INCREASED ADOPTION FOR COMMERCIAL AND FLEET APPLICATIONS WILL RAMP UP SPEED WITH CONTINUED TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS”

RA NDY MILLER

EY GLOBAL ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND MOBIL ITY LEADER

“One of the most important motivators is sustainability. Green ‘early adopters’, whose main drivers are environmental, are being joined by mainstream car buyers who are influenced by the ‘pull effect’, or the desire to be seen helping the environment by buying an EV,” says Randy Miller, EY Global Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Leader.

By no means are these exclusive drivers of electrification, but digital adoption seems to have opened up more capabilities for drivers as they weigh up the impacts of their living costs and their personal influences on the planet.

EY MOBILITY CONSUMER INDEX 2022 STUDY

According to the EY Mobility Consumer Index, 52% of car buyers are considering owning an EV as their next vehicle, including all-electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models—the figure is up by 22% in comparison to the same study in 2020.

52%

FULLY ELECTRIC / PLUG-IN HYBRID / HYBRID

21% 20% 10%

FULLY ELECTRIC

PLUG-IN HYBRID HYBRID

“We are also starting to see more economic drivers of EV purchases, with select industrial buyers that can also realise strong financial savings given the cost of electricity and operational savings for certain applications,”says Miller.

“But these buyers are also hit by the ‘push effect’, or a fear of the financial hit they might take with ICE vehicles due to pollution and congestion charges in select markets.”

So how can drivers get more for their money when EVs are still considered as premium or luxury vehicles? This is where UX design plays an important factor in not only making them desirable, but also in allowing their owners to reap benefits over time. After all, much of what is happening today could potentially be seen as investment into the future as consumers look to gain an earlyadoption advantage—although the earliest are those who advocate the products and have been driving them for decades already.

But, from a UX perspective, this seems to be the gateway to all possibilities with an EV. It’s the interface between car and driver, integrating with their digital devices, and—if you want to look at things from

a premium perspective—providing users with a seamless experience to make transport more convenient.

“Like many industries, consumers demand a more personalised digital experience, and we are seeing great strides in the development of infotainment technology in EVs,” Miller says. “For example, streaming services like Netflix are available in Tesla vehicles, and technology already exists which handles toll payments and parking from the car.”

This, of course, feeds into some of the comments made by Sara Sloman at EV Magazine LIVE about the payment experience and how consumers want it to be simplified—steered away from the complex array of payment methods that leave them baffled at the charge point.

“CONSUMERS DEMAND A MORE PERSONALISED DIGITAL EXPERIENCE”

LEADER

“MYSELF AS AN EV DRIVER HAVE BEEN SCREAMING AT CHARGE POINTS BEFORE JUST TO TAKE MY MONEY. I DON'T NEED ANYTHING FANCY; I JUST NEED YOU TO GIVE ME THE ELECTRICITY SO I CAN BE ON MY WAY”

S ARA SLOMAN CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER , PAYTHRU

Connectivity will soon be the key to everything. Similar to how physical bank cards have become redundant to mobile phone payments, and maintenance is now taking place via the cloud as opposed to in the shop—for vehicle updates and digital services, businesses are looking at how to leverage connectivity to give consumers more convenience from their EVs.

In the interim, this could ultimately combat some of the issues surrounding electric car range, birthing a futuristic automotive experience in years to come.

“Over the next 12-18 months, we’ll continue to see EV adoption increases,” says Miller.

“More connectivity and in-vehicle experiences, more model choice, cost improvements, incentives, and improvements in battery range and charging infrastructure options will continue to improve for consumers making it easier to buy an EV. Increased adoption for commercial and fleet applications will ramp up speed with continued technology enhancements alongside new business model offerings.”

THE NATURAL WAY TO

CHARGE ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Nature has many lessons, but for SolarBotanic Trees, it’s about creating charging solutions that minimise ground coverage & are aesthetically pleasing

CHARGING & INFRASTRUCTURE

All this talk of ‘more chargers’ begs the question of where we are going to put them all?

Understandably, there are some countries that have land available for mass adoption of sustainable energy solutions, such as wind turbine installations and solar farms. But, to use space more effectively, the EV charging industry may just have to get more creative with where it puts its plugs, and how it goes about doing so.

More charging hubs are popping up across the globe, particularly in more developed areas of the world, where ICE car sales will cease in 2030. But, as attractive as organisations make their chargers, who really wants to look at all that infrastructure?

BIOMIMICRY COULD BE ONE ANSWER TO THIS

The design and production of materials, structures, and systems that are modelled on biological entities and processes.

Who better to share insights on this than the championships of biomimicry in the charging and infrastructure sector, SolarBotanic Trees, which—you guessed it— share a relative resemblance to the most mature of plants. Not only does the SolarBotanic Tree showcase a revolutionary design, leveraging solar-power technologies and minimising ground space of EV charging hubs, but it also shows that, in the era of rapidly advancing technology, organisations can look outside of the box to find sustainable solutions within nature’s imagery and design.

A nature-mimicking solution to sustainable energy, SolarBotanic Trees is developing futuristic solutions that, though ornamental in public, represent biomimicry in local power. Producing solar power for homes, cars, and energy storage systems, SolarBotanic Trees is working to build infrastructure that looks as near to life as possible.

We see the company revolutionising the home and commercial microgrid, making off-grid energy more achievable and more attractive. By leveraging nature’s intrinsic design, each tree reduces the ground cover of clean energy infrastructure, fulfilling the firm’s dedication to creating inconspicuous solutions for use anywhere.

The organisation partners with leading technology research and development teams: the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC); Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC); Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC); and Brunel University London.

WHAT IS THE SOLARBOT ANIC TREE?

Ó Ì Ê Û Ù Ð Ê Û Ù È Ý Ì Ó

Ê Ù Ö Ú Ú Ì Ü Ù Ö × Ì

There should be no borders when it comes to electric travel That’s why IONITY operates charging stations along European motorways that are open to electric vehicles of any brand With several charging points at each location With ultra-fast charging stations that recharge your vehicle’s batteries for the next stretch of your journey in the shortest time possible And with electricity generated exclusively from renewable energy sources So, you are not only travelling emission-free: the journey really is carbon-neutral Find out more here: weareonit.biz

To understand more about the idea, we spoke to Harry Corrigan (HC), Executive Chairman of SolarBotanic Trees, whose role is to oversee the research and development around the charging concept.

TS - “Tell me more about SolarBotanic Trees and the solution it’s developing.”

HC - “The SolarBotanic Tree as a product concept was devised over seven years ago, designed in collaboration with potential customers, architects, and suppliers to ensure an aesthetically attractive, functional, and affordable alternative to conventional solar panels.

“The tree has been developed in collaboration with Co-Innovate—a business support programme that supports SMEs in London by using academic and innovation resources at Brunel University London, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, and the AMRC’s Design and Prototyping Group, who will be conducting the prototype testing.”

TS - “How do you see the solution scaling in line with EV industry growth?”

HC - “EV charging infrastructure is 20 years behind schedule. According to the Times, there is now one for every 30 EVs compared with 16 in 2020.

“The Government target of installing 300,000 EV charge points by 2030 looks to be wildly optimistic, at best. With that same situation globally, we will target areas that require both solar energy and aesthetic value so that people will see the tree as a symbol of a clean environment.

CHARGING & INFRASTRUCTURE

“We believe that the interest in EVs and the SolarBotanic Tree will be synonymous with helping the environment.”

TS - “Who will use the SolarBotanic Tree?”

HC - “This first-generation SolarBotanic Tree will eventually spawn a family of products. These initial products will be primarily aimed at the rapid electric vehicle charging market for homes, businesses and commercial car

“THIS FIRSTGENERATION SOLARBOTANIC TREE WILL EVENTUALLY SPAWN A FAMILY OF PRODUCTS”

HARR Y CORRIGAN EXECUTIV E CHAIRMAN OF SOLARBOT ANIC TREES

CHARGING & INFRASTRUCTURE

parks, where solar power can be captured and stored for charging points.

“It will also encompass a sophisticated, AI-driven energy storage and power management system (PMS), where trees can be linked and form part of a local grid or feed into the main grid—essential to optimise an increasingly electrified future.”

TS - “Why aren’t other businesses developing solar trees?”

HC - “The solar industry is well entrenched and there is still a long way to go before rooftop solar has reached capacity. Having said that, we believe that once people see our tree, it will inspire many imitators and this is good for the planet.”

TS - “So you believe this project will pave the way for more solutions that mimic the natural environment?”

HC - “Biomimicry taught us many things such as Velcro and the design of the Japanese bullet train engine, to mention just two.

“At SolarBotanic Trees, we believe that, within a short period, we will develop a tree that resembles a real tree, that is as realistic looking as a bunch of artificial flowers, and will produce energy from the sun and wind.”

“WE WILL DEVELOP A TREE THAT RESEMBLES A REAL TREE, THAT IS AS REALISTIC LOOKING AS A BUNCH OF ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS”

HARR Y CORRIGAN EXECUTIV E CHAIRMAN OF SOLARBOT ANIC TREES

TRANSITIONING MADE EASIER READINESS PLANNING

TRANSITIONING MADE EASIER READINESS PLANNING

More tools and insights prove there are many benefits to fleets and their drivers when electrifying. But are fleet managers ready to adopt EVs?

TRANSITIONING FLEETS WITH EV PLANNING

TRANSITIONING FLEETS WITH EV PLANNING

Fleet operators require efficiency, learning over time to rely on their ICE vehicles. Knowing where vehicles are heading, when they will arrive, and the requirements they need to meet in the process, is a standard practice for logistics firms, but potential disruption forever looms around the corner.

Manufacturers and technology firms have been integrating solutions to manage fleets and plot the journey ahead as it happens, with data the main component of this. With electrified vehicles, though, a major opportunity has presented itself, allowing organisations to integrate faster and more sustainably.

The challenge here is adoption. Despite the best efforts of vehicle manufacturers and their value chains in bringing more innovative cars, vans, and trucks into the

market, fleet operators must be willing to adopt. Time pressures are clear, but the cost to businesses remains questionable as electrification’s pros and cons echo along the supply chain.

Again, the key here is data. Supply chain organisations need to be more informed about the EV adoption process to effectively weigh up the cost of switching to this particular type of zero-emission transport. Concerns around charging infrastructure, range, and other aspects of electrification are what hold them back. As Barney Goffer, UK Product Manager at Teletrac Navman, explains, this presents risks on both sides.

RISK VS RISK—THE FLEET ELECTRIFICATION DILEMMA

Stagnance is the first potential risk to fleets—standing still in an industry where movement is key could cost more in

the long-term as competitors look to leverage new technologies first. This is understandable in an industry that is more traditional in its approach to operations, but it’s safe to say, open-mindedness could mean the difference between winning the electrification race and being left behind.

On the flip side, the unknown is the unknown, and with new technologies— especially those reinventing conventional approaches—there will also be uncertainty, and those that accept the risks with their eyes wide open will prosper.

While the risk is inevitable, data is the educator in this process, and solutions like Teletrac Navman’s Electric Vehicle Readiness tool, provides the necessary insight to help fleet managers better educate themselves on their operations, leveraging greater visibility.

TELETR AC NAVMAN: THE EV READ INESS TOOL

Helping organisations get to grips with the EV way of operating, Teletrac Navman is working with fleet managers to make the steady transition to electrified cars, trucks and vans.

The EV Readiness Tool allows supply chain businesses to structure their current fleets in such ways that align with best practices for EVs, leveraging data, reporting, and using this information to map out a journey to zeroemission vehicle (ZEV) adoption.

Users of the EV Readiness Tool benefit greatly from data insights and early-adoption to make the most of tax breaks, save on costs, and avoid further hindrance, including:

• Switching vehicles at the wrong times

• Costly consultations

• Investment in new ICE options that will go out of date faster

• Lack of preparation for the ICE ban in 2030

• Buying vehicles with insufficient range

• Complication with charging infrastructure

of companies they buy from. This means that organisations are under pressure from both angles. They want their supply chain actions to be sustainable, and their customers want products to be provided at no cost to the planet.

“Consumers are extremely savvy, clearly, and we want to know that they're not impacting the environment necessarily. So, people are making decisions to buy from businesses that have strong green credentials that have a forward-looking organisation focused on exactly that—minimising carbon emitted

EXTREMELY SAVVY, CLEARLY, AND WE WANT TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT IMPACTING THE ENVIRONMENT NECESSARILY”

CLEARLY, AND WE WANT TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT IMPACTING THE ENVIRONMENT NECESSARILY”

BAR NEY GOFFER UK PRODUC T MANAGER, TELET RAC NAVMAN

into the atmosphere and their overall environmental impact,” says Goffer. Track and trace settles some concerns

As fleet operators consider the potential impact of electrification on their fleets, it’s important to understand how track and trace can not only make EV adoption much simpler, but also allows companies to seamlessly integrate their vehicles into their digital ecosystems.

“It's important to know when a certain threshold is met for a particular vehicle so you can get it back out on the road straight away. The converse of that could be that you want to know if something is unlikely to meet its delivery slot, it's going to run the risk of actually running out of charge,” says Goffer.

Visibility of logistics operations is perhaps one of the most critical benefits of electrification. The ability to receive overthe-air updates and review data in real time allows organisations to adapt quickly and optimise their EVs.

“It’s about providing those critical data points that will alert automatically. You don’t want

to have to sit there as a fleet manager and be looking for this; you want the system to actually tell you by exception when there is a risk,” Goffer explains.

The method of powering a vehicle should not determine a fleet. If managers can leverage the data provided by a particular type of vehicle or system, they are able to adapt and plan contingencies, making their supply chains more resilient to the world around them. Integration with software and access to navigation systems these days means that drivers in any context can plan ahead more effectively.

Transitioning a fleet to EVs is like preparing a room for a new-born child: it requires planning well in advance. If the correct facilities aren’t in place, or in the right place, when it comes to the big moment, the process is likely to be more stressful. Learning the works and understanding how the business will interact with EVs—and even putting some of those lessons into practice initially—will ease fleet operators in a more sustainable way.

“IT’S ABOUT PROVIDING THOSE CRITICAL DATA POINTS THAT WILL ALERT AUTOMATICALLY”

“IT’S ABOUT PROVIDING THOSE CRITICAL DATA POINTS THAT WILL ALERT AUTOMATICALLY”

BAR NEY GOFFER

UK PRODUCT MANAGER, TELET RAC NAVMAN

ROBOTAXIS: MASTERING THE MIRACLE OF SAFE TRAVEL

ROBOTAXIS:

The electrified vehicle platform catalyses robotaxi innovation, but when will consumers and businesses learn to trust them as much as NVIDIA’s Tim Wong?

It seems ludicrous to even say the word. ‘Robotaxi’. A vehicle driven by no one, with limits unbeknown to those who built it.

If you think about it, organisations are coming together to take control of the climate crisis and pass the buck to the technologies that they provide—so there’s no wonder people feel their jobs and roles in society may be obsolete in years to come.

So, who does it benefit most? Businesses that wish to leverage the lean capabilities and energy consumption optimisation of digital services, or consumers that simply look for sustainable convenience and safer ways to travel at lower prices?

For one individual behind the scenes at NVIDIA, the latter point about safety is a critical one to consider when thinking about robotaxis and their applications in the future of mobility.

ROBOTAXIS: UBER’ S ADOPTION

Towards the end of 2022, Uber announced its first foray into the robotaxi scene. As one of the major digital disruptors of the passenger transport industry, the company’s use of the Hyundai Ioniq EV marks a new era of mobility delivered by the company’s operators in Las Vegas. Read the story

As the Technical Marketing for Automotive Vehicles lead, Tim Wong shares his excitement for revolution in the sector, coming in the form of autonomous driving. Working with the team on the NVIDIA DRIVE solution, Wong is involved in testing its autonomous solutions to ensure it meets safety metrics to support almost any application.

From a commercial perspective, automotive manufacturers rarely want to outsource the entirety of their digital solutions. In a world where most solutions are built by OEMs, for OEMS, NVIDIA has to work with a broad spectrum of stakeholders to ensure its DRIVE solution’s interoperability with multiple vehicles’ sensor systems.

“I’d love to do a one-size-fits-all solution, but, sadly, it’s not. We have our Hyperion sensor set and we give customers our reference of what we think they should have, but we find everyone likes to change things,” Wong says.

COMBATING HIGH ACCIDENT STATISTICS

One of the inherent benefits of autonomy is safety. This makes up the majority of the argument for robotaxis alongside the notion of efficiency. The risks of automotive affect both the safety of the population and the planet on which they reside.

When it comes to climate change, not many of us can be distracted from the impending ‘point of no return’, but this can’t be said for driving, or for both analogue and digital distractions on the roads.

“If you look at the US accident statistics, 60% of all accidents and property damage in LA last year were due to distracted driving,” says Wong.

“That’s terrible. That means that we, as drivers in charge of these 4,000lb vehicles, are not paying attention. Whether we’re on our phones, adjusting the climate control, talking to someone in the backseat, or even daydreaming, we’re not paying attention.”

WAYMO’S WEAPON OF CHOICE

Google’s Waymo is bringing the future to life with autonomous vehicles already reaching the public eye. Testing on the road began in 2019 with the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan, and has since included the Jaguar i-Pace and a Freightliner Cascadia, reaching both the electrified passenger vehicle industry and Class 8 heavy-goods vehicles.

Safety is at the forefront of Waymo’s innovation as it takes a holistic, responsible approach to autonomous trucking, bringing new capabilities to the supply chain.

This is one of the drivers of Wong’s concern for people’s safety, which leads him to talk about his children and how technology could be a more suitable option for families like his that have many miles to cover.

“I have three daughters and, sadly, when they were in school, the after-school activities they picked were different. So my wife was trying to run between, then my mum was able to help out, and then I would help out sometimes.

“But, when you consider things like that where you’ve got to be in three different places at the same time, it’s a little scary to send them via Uber or Lyft,” says Wong. “Using an autonomous vehicle where there is no driver, I actually feel more comfortable.”

CAN COMMUTERS TRUST DIGITAL DRIVERS?

While it may seem like an easy thing to say for someone whose role is shaped by technology and autonomous driving developments, there seems to be a simple answer to wider adoption. We asked Wong how commuters can build trust in robotaxi solutions, to which his response made a lot of sense—try it.

“60% OF ALL ACCIDENTS AND PROPERTY DAMAGE IN LA LAST YEAR WERE DUE TO DISTRACTED DRIVING”

TIM WONG TECHNICAL MARKETING FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEH ICLES LEAD NV IDIA DRIVE

NVIDIA DRIVE SIMULATION

The research team at NVIDIA developed its Neural Reconstruction Engine, which takes imagery and video recordings from the road to feed data into the AI network, storing millions of driving scenarios.

AI automatically extracts the key data points required to activate simulations of the same scenarios, but are fully reactive and are manipulated as needed. When it comes to assembling the environment, AI converts 2D video data from a real-world drive into a 3D digital twin that can be used to inform the DRIVE Sim.

Experiencing autonomous driving firsthand has already helped some individuals understand the behaviour of the vehicle and, generally, feel at ease very quickly. Knowledge is also a key factor in understanding how safe autonomous vehicles are.

When put into perspective, the neural network that has been developed for autonomous cars more capable of correctly assessing risks on the road—not to mention the next generation vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) connectivity on the horizon.

With cars talking to each other while also analysing tens of millions of data points in

a 360-degree-view of the vehicle, potential disturbances or incidents are reduced greatly in comparison to the 20-20 vision of the healthiest human drivers.

Such solutions are being adopted across the EV landscape. One of the most recent applications of autonomy is with the Volvo EX90—the latest and safest automobile to be built by the Swedish OEM.

With so many organisations shifting to electric or entering the industry on a pure-play basis, the vast playing field of technology capabilities from EVs is enabling more and more organisations to ready their cars for autonomous capabilities.

WONG TECHNICAL MARKETING FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES LEAD, NV IDIA DRIVE

“USING AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WHERE THERE IS NO DRIVER, I ACTUALLY FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE”

TIM

FASTEST-GROWING BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT E-MOBILITY

With its multiple facets, we recognise mobility requires various business types to make it work. We’re showcasing those that are looking to the future of mobility

The EV conversation used to revolve solely around cars. But, as we learn more about electrification and the opportunities that it provides for tech firms and other sustainable businesses, it’s clear that there’s no one solution that can eliminate our impact on the planet.

Knowing this, it seems fitting to highlight some of the different industries driving the future of mobility and shed light on the fastest-growing startups to bring new and innovative solutions to the field.

#10

ZOOX

Road tested for the first time in February 2023, the Amazon-owned business is developing robotaxis to transport riders by means of autonomous driving. The Zoox vehicle marks a new era of mobility with internally-facing seats and no steering wheel—meaning nobody needs to drive.

The car is designed to be symmetrical, making pickups and drop-offs as seamless as possible. We can expect to see more of this innovative automobile from Zoox in the near-future.

#09 APTIV

Providing an innovative, integrated vehicle brain and nervous system, Aptiv’s mission is all about customers and how it supports them in the creation of software-defined vehicles. In the process, the company also gets to work on some of the most significant mobility challenges, such as autonomous driving development, vehicle electrification, and advanced driver assistance and safety systems.

Aptiv’s team firmly believes in global change and that mobility is a catalyst for sustainable impact.

#08 VOLTA CHARGING

Volta is leading the charge towards a cleaner, more sustainable future by building a unique network of charging stations that power EVs and drive business growth.

With a keen eye for sustainable principles and positive environmental impact, Volta delivers significant value to site partners, brands, and consumers by installing charging stations that feature large-format digital advertising screens.

#07 FISKER

Built from the ground up as a sustainable OEM, Fisker is now manufacturing its Fisker Ocean for delivery in its first limited run of 5,000 cars. Leveraging sustainable materials, the company prides itself on reusing compounds like ocean plastics to build its EVs.

Not only does the Fisker Ocean help keep the air clean, but it also does its part for the ocean, too, and so will the company’s latest concepts, the Pear and Ronin.

RAD POWER BIKES

Coming up with multiple solutions to electrify and simplify the daily commute, Rad Power Bikes is a Seattle-based business founded in 2007. The company is currently making waves with its groundbreaking directto-consumer business model and rapidly expanding team.

In the process, the company is breaking down barriers to energy and democratising the world of e-bikes, bringing them to hundreds of thousands of riders across the globe.

#05 FREEWIRE TECHNOLOGIES

Innovative, ultra-fast charging technology is one of the most in-demand solutions of the decade, and FreeWire Technologies’ development work is crucial to accelerating such products. Backed by BlackRock, BP, ABB, and many other capital investors, the company owns a fully-integrated solution to provide a reliable energy supply at the grid edge.

The solution also allows the creation of new business models without the constant need for updated energy infrastructure.

#04 WEAVEGRID

The company develops a platform to solve some of the inherent grid integration challenges in e-mobility and provides a solution to assist with clean energy prosperity.

By integrating renewable energy on the grid, improving EV drivers’ experience, and accelerating EV adoption, WeaveGrid’s systems-oriented approach helps utilities prepare for the unprecedented change that vehicle electrification will bring.

#03 VINFAST

An electric car maker that you perhaps haven’t heard of, VinFast is navigating the cost rises and struggles of an EV startup while collaborating with a major auto company, Pininfarina.

Owned by Vin Group, VinFast’s approach to electrification is driven by the creation of a better life for people. The Vietnamese car company is working with international professionals to drive innovation through the EV brand and create a sustainable future for automotive.

The company believes in a smart, safe, and environmentally-conscious approach to e-mobility.

#2

ZENOBE ENERGY

Zenobe Energy’s story is one of a clean nature as it strives for infrastructure sustainability to reach net-zero carbon emissions. The company designs, finances, constructs, and operates battery storage solutions, capturing renewable energy and encouraging a greener supply of energy for the electrical revolution.

The company was founded in the UK’s capital, London, in 2017 and is preparing to build the country’s largest capacity battery facility—a world-first project that will act as a catalyst for renewable energy and, ultimately, EV rollout.

Aside from that, Zenobe is proud to contribute to the circular economy of batteries, which is achieved by saving materials, carbon, and cost, with a monumental impact on the industry. Having raised £520mn worth of funds, Zenobe transformed that number into 435MW of gridconnected battery storage.

#1 CANOO

The brand itself almost operates in the background as it works to develop a unique, electrified product offering. Canoo has four product offerings, including a lifestyle vehicle, MPDV, and pickup truck—the fourth is its purpose-built EV platform.

Canoo’s vehicles are expected to be seen roaming in the colours of US retail giant Walmart. There is also a plan in place to ensure the company wear’s NASA’s logo at the point of the first human lunar landing—with three customised LV models delivered to NASA by June 2023.

But, despite its unorthodox design principles, Canoo represents a shift in mobility and builds cars of the future that are designed for utility and fun.

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