EVolution magazine

www.EVolutionMagazine.co.uk

Issue: April 2022

Park & charge ZipCharge Go wins engineering award UK government sets target of 300,000 chargers by 2030

EV Energy Taskforce looks for the sweet spot

Uber and BP invest in the roll-out of chargepoints

APT Skidata Charge connects parking and EV services

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Supporting the transition to electric and hydrogen road transport

WELCOME

www.EVolutionMagazine.co.uk

Issue: April 2022

A VW ID.Buzz charges up at one of 500 Tesco stores now equipped with free Pod Point terminals that have been installed by the retailer in partnership with Volkswagen

Park & charge ZipCharge Go wins engineering award UK government sets target of 300,000 chargers by 2030

EV Energy Taskforce looks for the sweet spot

Uber and BP invest in the roll-out of chargepoints

APT Skidata Charge connects parking and EV services

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10

13

15

Supporting the transition to electric and hydrogen road transport

@EVolutionAlerts EVolutionMagazine.co.uk Editorial Managing editor: Mark Moran Tel: 020 7091 7871 mark.moran@landor.co.uk Production and design production@landor.co.uk Advertising, sponsorship, marketing and exhibition packages Jason Conboy Tel: 020 7091 7895 jason@landor.co.uk Subscriptions Christina Pierre Tel: 020 7091 7959 subs@landor.co.uk Accounts Irina Cocks Tel: 020 7091 7854 irina.cocks@landor.co.uk Business manager Rod Fletcher Tel: 0191 280 1410 Printed by: Pensord Tram Road, Pontllanfraith, Blackwood NP12 2YA Published by: Landor LINKS Ltd, Apollo House, 359 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5QY © Landor LINKS Ltd 2022

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COVER: The ZipCharge Go charger

EVolution | April 2021

Getting ready to charge ahead The government’s new Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy aims to achieve tenfold growth in the UK’s public charging infrastructure by 2030 and will introduce legislation to make chargepoints more reliable, accessible and user-friendly.

The Charging Ahead report sets out the government’s plan to have 300,000 public chargepoints available by 2030. This ambition has been widely welcomed by key stakeholders in the sector: chargepoint operators; carmakers; motoring organisations; and energy suppliers.

The government has also been applauded for its plan to mandate contactless payment and to set reliability targets for the chargepoints themselves. The launch of the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund is widely seen as a good thing, as is a plan to develop local charging hubs that help drivers who cannot charge at home as they do not have a driveway or garage.

But there remain some notes of caution. For example, there have been calls to reduce VAT on public charging to 5%, bringing it in line with at-home charging. However, moves that reduce tax take are something that the Treasury seems set to resist. And as tax revenue from fossil fuels and sales of internal combustion-engined vehicles decline between now and 2030, policy battles over how far the public sector can, or should, finance the transition to zero-emission seem set to intensify.

Many eyes will thus be looking at how rapidly and deeply the private sector steps into the financing of chargepoint infrastructure.

Mark Moran Editor

The ambition of 300,000 chargepoints by 2030 is welcome

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Everyday Better Intelligent and Scalable Parking Permit Solution

03333 442 058 zatpark.com

NEWS

BSI consults on accessible EV charging Standards body is working with Motability, reports Mark Moran The British Standards Institute (BSI) has launched a consultation for a new standard to ensure the accessibility of electric vehicle public charging. The draft standard for accessible charging of electric vehicles will be open for public comment until 4 May 2022.

BSI, in its role as the UK national standards body, is seeking comments from those involved in chargepoint design, manufacture and installation as well as private landowners, local authorities, transport planners, consumer groups and energy providers.

The UK government’s commitment to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 will lead to an increase in the use of electric vehicles, which requires a new and significant network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

With an estimated 14 million disabled people in the UK, and 2.7 million predicted disabled drivers in ten years’ time, chargepoints will need to be inclusively designed for use by all consumers. The new charging network should be aligned with government policy including Inclusive Mobility.

As this seems set to be first standard of its kind internationally, the BSI

The BSI standard covers the design and installation of chargepoints

intends to set out the requirements for the provision of accessible public charging for all plug-in vehicles to all potential users and pedestrians, to create an inclusive charging environment for all, including disabled and older people, and people with learning disabilities or neurodiverse conditions.

The focus of the standard, named PAS 1899:2022: Electric vehicles – Accessible charging – Specification, is to agree minimum accessibility standards for all public chargepoints and settings in which more enhanced accessibility can be deployed.

The standard, which is sponsored by the charity Motability and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), intends to cover: • the location, placement and spacing of charging units within the streetscape and

Court becomes EVA England’s first CEO Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) England has appointed James Court as its first chief executive.

Court worked in the Cabinet Office on the UK’s COP26 transport policy and helped build the Climate Group’s UK Electric Fleets Coalition (UKEFC), representing the UK’s biggest fleet owners. Before that he led work with EV charging companies and manufacturers as director of policy and communications at the renewables

EVolution | April 2022

trade body the REA, the Renewable Energy Association.

EVA England’s chair Bridget Phelps said: “James is a passionate advocate for electric vehicles and brings over 15 years of experience working in the environmental, energy and transport worlds.”

James Court said: “There has been a quiet revolution happening on British roads in the past five years, with over 400,000 EVs now

public realm and relative to other infrastructure and/or objects (e.g. placement of charging units relative to individual parking bays, adequate space surrounding the charging unit and vehicle) • the physical aspects of the environment surrounding fixed charging units (e.g. kerb height, ground type) • factors to be taken account of in the design and specification of accessible chargepoints and their more immediate surrounding areas (e.g. height of chargepoint, cables and cable management systems, bollard spacing, interface tilt, lighting, colours used, accessibility of language within communications, weight and ease of use of the equipment) • information, signals and indicators provided.

Nick Fleming, head of transport and mobility

standards at BSI, said: “BSI is excited to be involved in the development of this standard to encourage accessibility considerations in the manufacture, installation and maintenance of EV chargepoints. EV users have a wide range of needs and this PAS can help to improve user experience and ensure the public EV charging network is accessible for all.

“Improving the accessibility of EV charging networks will help to further drive the adoption of EVs, an important step in the decarbonisation of the UK’s transport sector if we are to meet net zero targets by 2050.”

Barry Le Grys, chief executive of Motability, said: “As we transition to net zero, emerging transport options must be made accessible for disabled people right from the very beginning. Our research shows that half of disabled people will be reliant on public EV charging by 2035, yet they face a host of problems using public charging – from confusing instructions on payment units to heavy charging cables and limited space to move around in charging bays. Motability is sponsoring these standards because we believe that they are the only way that manufacturers can develop new infrastructure at pace which is fully accessible for disabled people and fit for the future of travel.”

The standard is due to be published in summer 2022.

registered, as drivers recognise the convenience and low running costs of electric vehicles. I couldn’t be joining EVA England at a more exciting time, as EV ownership moves into the mainstream and EVs become the obvious choice for people’s next car purchase.”

EVA England is a non-profit community interest company that was established in June 2020 to offer a voice, services and representation to current and prospective electric vehicle drivers.

www.evaengland.org.uk

James Court

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NEWS

Only a quarter of councils have EV transition plan FairCharge calls on local authorities to ‘up their game’ Only a quarter of local authorities in the UK have published EV transition strategies, despite being encouraged to do so by the UK government and the Local Government Association (LGA), it has been revealed.

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests carried out by the FairCharge campaign show that only 28% of local authorities have published EV transition strategies, with a further 23% in the process of devising a strategy. The FOI requests were sent to all 374 local authorities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on 17 February 2022.

The statutory deadline for responding was 17 March 2022. By this point, 287 councils responded – 76.74% of the total – producing the results outlined above.

The FairCharge campaign, led by motoring journalist Quentin Willson, said its survey reveals the scale of the challenge as the UK government says it intends to

Quentin Willson

make it mandatory for local authorities to produce strategies.

FairCharge is a grass-roots campaign with over 80,000 supporters that is seeking to ensure the benefits of the EV revolution are available to all.

The campaign said the figures were extremely worrying.

Willson stressed the importance of central government taking a more active role in driving public charging provision to ensure the benefits of the EV revolution could be harnessed by all, not just those with access to off-street parking.

Willson said: “The figures revealed from councils in our

Freedom of Information requests are extremely worrying. Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Department for Transport say that local authorities are best placed to consider local needs, and this of course is true, but we can see today that without a big role for central government in supporting councils, there is a real chance that much of country will be left behind in terms of public charging infrastructure.

Councils clearly need to up their game too, but their needs to be direction and oversight from central government.

“The figures are so

concerning because they mean that many people – such as those without driveways – will be hindered from taking part in the EV revolution. This is simply unfair, and will hold us back in our efforts to decarbonise transport. Our FairCharge campaign is seeking to ensure the benefits of EVs are felt by all. The government should waste no time in placing a statutory duty on local authorities to produce EV transition strategies.”

FairCharge has also been highlighting the other barriers that those without access to off-street residential parking are facing if they are to make the switch to EVs, including leading a push to reduce the 20% VAT rate on public charging so that it is equal to the 5% rate for those who charge at home off-street.

The VAT differential is among one factor that a recent Resolution Foundation report estimated could see those with off-street parking paying £139 a year in fuel costs versus £712 for those without, showing that those without driveways face cost barriers as well as infrastructure barriers.

Time to turbo-charge EV charging, says infrastructure commission The government is at risk of failing to deliver the aims of its National Infrastructure Strategy unless it picks up the pace with detailed policy design and implementation, the UK’s official independent infrastructure adviser has warned.

The National Infrastructure Commission says that clear, long-term goals are now in place across most infrastructure areas and gives credit for increased investment – a £100bn commitment over the next three years, alongside an indication of increased spending in the long term.

The commission sets out some key objectives, which include the need to accelerate the roll out of electric vehicle charging points to ensure the 2030 date for the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars remains viable. Its annual review of government progress on infrastructure notes that some of its key recommendations have been delivered, including the creation of the UK Infrastructure Bank, and that both gigabit broadband coverage and renewable electricity capacity have continued to increase.

However, the commission is concerned that slow progress being made in other areas poses threats to achieving key objectives at the heart of the

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National Infrastructure Strategy. That government document, published in 2020, set out plans for infrastructure to help boost economic growth across all parts of the UK and meet the net zero emissions target by 2050.

The commission states that “some of the strategies government has developed over the last year lack detailed delivery policy, leave key gaps, or simply do not go far enough”.

The commission highlights ten priorities for the year ahead, including the transition to EVs, the need for a comprehensive energy efficiency push to insulate homes, better mobile communications connectivity and investment in passenger transport systems. It assesses recent government activity against five tests: a long-term perspective; clear goals and plans to achieve them; firm funding commitments; a genuine commitment to change; and action on the ground.

The commission highlights the need for a pipeline of mass urban transit schemes beyond the planned development of such a project for West Yorkshire, and a rapid shift away from competitive bidding between councils for short term transport funding pots, towards long term devolved funding

settlements. The commission’s report also flags the need for big decisions on how the net zero transition will be funded, stating:“Ultimately, that will either be taxpayers, consumers, or a combination of both. But ensuring the costs are distributed fairly is critical. Delays to decisions on who pays are now holding up delivering infrastructure, including low carbon heat and energy efficiency. Open and honest conversations, followed by clear decisions, are needed to address this.”

Commission chair Sir John Armitt said:“At a time of significant global volatility alongside concerns about rising living costs, we appreciate that sticking to a long term strategy is not easy. But it is the only way to address the stubbornly difficult problems that will not become any easier or cheaper to solve by delaying action – and the quicker we tackle them, the quicker society and our environment will reap the benefits.”

Sir John pointed to the key role of electrifying road transport, writing:“We need to turbo-charge the rollout of electric vehicle charging points, accelerating the installation of both rapid and on-street charging facilities so that the 2030 date for the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars remains viable.”

EVolution | April 2022

NEWS

Geospatial Commission looks at location data Discovery project will support planning of pubic chargers The Geospatial Commission has launched a discovery project to explore how location data can be better utilised to support planning and delivery of electric vehicle chargepoints by local authorities.

The UK government has committed to transitioning to EVs in support of its net zero targets. Local authorities will play a crucial role enabling this transition.

The discovery project will support the approach set out in the government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy, published by the Department for Transport, which focusses on enabling the roll-out of a robust EV charging infrastructure network by 2030. Setting out

an approach for EV infrastructure roll out and expectations of key stakeholders, the Taking Charge strategy identifies that addressing barriers to data sharing will be important to enable decision making.

Dr Steve Unger, commissioner at the Geospatial Commission, said: “Location data will play a key role in planning the UK’s transition to electric vehicles and help make net zero a reality. Through this project, the Geospatial Commission will understand the challenges faced by local authorities who wish to exploit location data. By working together, we will be able to unlock the potential for data-driven innovation in transport.”

The commission’s discovery project includes workshops with 10 local authorities to identify challenges and opportunities for better use of

location data in the roll-out of EV chargepoint infrastructure. The project will be undertaken by technical specialists FrazerNash Consultancy.

Ten local authorities are involved in the project: • Oxfordshire County Council • City of York Council • Norfolk County Council • Greater Manchester Combined Authority • West Sussex County Council • Cornwall Council • Kent County Council • Leeds City Council • Wiltshire Council • Cheshire East Council.

Matthew Perrin, digital services innovation lead, Frazer-Nash Consultancy, said: “Geospatial data is vital to planning, installing and running an effective charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. We are really looking forward to working with the Geospatial Commission and

local authorities on this important study, providing our expertise in geospatial data and discovery to enable this important step on the UK’s journey to net zero.”

Cllr Helen Hayden, executive member for infrastructure and climate from Leeds City Council, said: “Over the last five years, Leeds has taken a range of actions, offering free electric van trials, discounted parking and requiring chargepoints in new developments, to accelerate our city’s transition to less polluting vehicles.

“With figures showing that the number of plug-in vehicles in Leeds has doubled over the last year, it is vitally important that we understand how best to expand and improve access to charging infrastructure for drivers on the go or without private parking. We are therefore excited to be part of this timely project.”

LEVI Fund consortium will dispense £450m to councils Energy Saving Trust to work with Cenex and PA Consulting The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has selected a consortium of external partners to support the delivery of its new £450m Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund.

Part of the Department for Transport and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, OZEV is a team working across government to support the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). These organisations will provide support for the take-up of plug in vehicles, as well as funding to support chargepoint infrastructure across the UK. OZEV hopes to support these goals with the launch of the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund.

EVolution | April 2022

The LEVI Fund will have £450m to distribute

The scheme will support the planning and roll out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the UK through large scale and commercially sustainable projects that leverage significant private sector investment.

A consortium of British companies is set to collaborate on the realisation of LEVI, combining technical,

commercial and programme management expertise. The consortium comprises the charity Energy Saving Trust, zero emissions consultancy Cenex and design agency PA Consulting.

A collective statement from the LEVI consortium read: “Energy Saving Trust, Cenex and PA Consulting are delighted to have been appointed as the support body

for LEVI, in partnership with OZEV. Together we will encourage large scale thinking amongst councils to help build the local electric vehicle infrastructure needed to support fair access to low carbon travel. We look forward to creating lasting change in the next four years.”

LEVI funding is open to local authorities in England, as well as partnerships or consortiums led by a local authority within England.

Applicants for the scheme must be planning an EV charging infrastructure project that supports the transition to EV use in a local area, with a particular focus on provision for those without off-street parking; will provide an improvement in accessible and low-cost EV charging that would not otherwise be met by current or planned EV chargepoint infrastructure; and shows either technical or commercial innovation.

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INFRASTRUCTURE

Building a charging strategy Government commits £1.6bn to grow charging network to 300,000 by 2030

T

he UK government plans to spend £1.6bn supporting the UK market reach 300,000 public electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints by 2030. The government’s ambition is to see EV charging become easier and cheaper than refuelling a petrol or diesel car. Taking Charge, the government’s new Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy sets out a plan to improve consumer experience at chargepoints, support people without access to off-street parking and provide fast charging for longer journeys.

New legal requirements will see chargepoint operators have to enable drivers of EVs to pay by contactless, compare charging prices and electric vehicle find nearby Taking charge: the tegy infrastructure stra chargepoints via apps.

There will be particular support for EV drivers without access to off-street parking and on fast

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charging for longer journeys.

Prime minister Boris Johnson said: “We’re powering ahead with plans to help British people go electric, with our expanding charging network making journeys easier right across the country.

Clean transport isn’t just better for the environment, but is another way we can drive down our dependence on external energy supplies. It will also create new high-skilled jobs for our automotive and energy sectors and ultimately secure more sustainable and affordable motoring for all.”

The government says it will be providing £1.6m of support via Taking Charge. Some £500m will be invested to bring competitively priced public chargepoints to communities across the UK. This includes a £450m Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund, which will boost projects such as EV hubs and on-street charging to serve those without driveways.

A pilot scheme for the LEVI fund will see local authorities bid for a share of £10m in funding, allowing selected areas to work with industry and boost public charging opportunities. The LEVI funding also includes up to £50m to fund staff to work on local challenges and public

chargepoint planning. The government said this will ensure that any development complements all other zero-emission forms of travel, such as walking and cycling.

The existing £950m Rapid Charging Fund will support the roll-out of at least 6,000 high powered super-fast chargepoints across England’s motorways by 2035.

The promised new funding comes on top of ministers’ pledges to address barriers to the private sector roll-out of chargepoints, such as local councils delaying planning permission and high connection costs.

The government states that chargepoint operators are already committed to installing an additional 15,000 rapid chargepoints across England’s entire road network – a quadrupling of the current offer – and over 100,000 on-street chargepoints by 2025.

New standards and legislation being introduced to improve people’s experience of using public chargepoints. The government is mandating that operators provide real-time data about chargepoints. It wants to ensure that consumers can compare prices and seamlessly pay for their charging using

EVolution | April 2022

INFRASTRUCTURE

Positive(ish) feedback

Decarbonising transport is at the very heart of our agenda Grant Shapps

contactless cards. They will also be able to use apps to find their nearest available chargepoint. The plans will require a 99% reliability rate at rapid chargepoints to give consumers confidence in finding chargepoints that work wherever they travel – helping eradicate so-called ‘range anxiety’.

The government states that, even with recent trends in electricity prices, EVs will still benefit from lower fuel, running and maintenance costs than their petrol and diesel equivalents and the strategy hopes to encourage drivers across the nation to make the switch. And as vehicle production costs continue to fall, the government cites analysts who expect purchase price parity with petrol and diesel cars to be reached well within the 2020s.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “No matter where you live, be that a city centre or rural village, the north, south, east or west of the country, we’re powering up the switch to electric and ensuring no one gets left behind in the process. The scale of the climate challenge ahead of us all is well known and decarbonising transport is at the very heart of our agenda. That’s why we’re ensuring the country is EV-fit for future generations by the end of this decade, revolutionising our charging network and putting the consumer first.”

Alongside the EV strategy, the government is launching an automotive roadmap outlining joint government and industry commitments to achieve the decarbonisation of road transport. This is the first in a series of roadmaps that will be published over the course of the year for each sector of the prime minister’s Ten Point Plan, showcasing how the UK is delivering on green commitments. The roadmap will bring together government policies designed to help and support the automotive sector in the shift towards greener transport and aims to help businesses plan their transition to a zeroemission future.

EVolution | April 2022

The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy has been broadly welcomed, but some organisations have expressed reservations

The chargepoint operators The government wants the private sector to play a key role in assisting with the switch to electric vehicles. Richard Bartlett, senior vice president at bp pulse, revealed plans to spend £1bn to develop charging infrastructure in the UK. He said: “This £1bn investment is vital to provide the charging infrastructure the UK needs. We’re investing to build a world-class network. This investment allows us to deliver more. More high-speed charging in dedicated hubs and on existing fuel and convenience sites. More home charging services.

And crucial enhancements to our digital technology that will make charging fast, easy and reliable.”

Ian Johnston, chief executive of Osprey Charging, said the government’s plan is an important step towards ensuring the UK has the right number of charging points nationwide. “These charging stations simply must be reliable, easy to navigate and importantly, accessible for all,” he said. “There are already many billions of pounds of private investment committed for the deployment of charging infrastructure across the UK. The announcements will allow this funding to provide critical infrastructure to the areas that are as yet underserved – notably motorway service areas and local authority towns and cities across the nation.”

Phil Shadbolt, chief executive at EZ-Charge, welcomed the £1.6bn funding announcement and move to a more open approach to payment. He said: “For too long many chargepoint operators have tried to force customers to use only their networks by making them pay a membership fee or download an app to charge.”

Neil Isaacson, Liberty Charge’s chief executive, believes more can be done to achieve the Prime Minister’s ambition to be the fastest nation in the G7 to decarbonise road transport. He said: “Although this is a really positive step, we believe that there are some additional elements to the strategy that would make it even more powerful.

For example, a scrappage scheme to get the worst polluting cars off the road, and a VAT cut to onstreet charging to 5% to bring it in line with off-street charging. We also urgently need further clarification on requirements for how local authorities can access the funds available, if we are to reach 300,000 public EV chargepoints by 2030.”

by mandating binding targets on the rollout of charging infrastructure. He said:”It is essential that infrastructure keeps pace with market demand, or in fact leads demand, to remove any customer fears of ‘charging anxiety’ and accelerates the electrification of Britain’s roads as quickly as possible.”

Fleet operators BVRLA, the trade body that represents the vehicle rental, leasing and mobility services sector, believes the strategy will deliver a more reliable experience for businesses. However, it wants to see a similarly comprehensive approach to address the infrastructure needs of fleets. Gerry Keaney, BVRLA chief executive, said: “As a sector that buys and operates more than 50% of EVs in the UK, we would like to see these priorities acknowledged, with more consideration given to appropriate support and interventions. We have particular concerns around chargepoint accessibility for commercial vehicles and believe that the government needs to start planning for HGVcompatible infrastructure as soon as possible.”

The motoring organisations RAC head of policy Nicholas Lyes said: “With the electric vehicle revolution already underway, it’s vital the UK’s charging infrastructure is fit for purpose and keeps pace. It’s pleasing that the government recognises the value of mandating contactless payment and will also set ambitious reliability targets on the chargepoints themselves.

“Many current and would-be EV drivers worry that charging units will be out of order when they arrive to charge their vehicles so it is vitally important this is addressed. While the government’s expectation of having 300,000 chargepoints available by 2030 might sound impressive, we are concerned that this is not going to be sufficient with drivers looking to switch to an electric vehicle en-masse ahead of the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.

Additionally, accessibility standards and assistance for those without smartphone apps should also be part of the overall strategy.”

Edmund King, AA president, said: “As we advance quickly to the 2030 deadline for new zeroemission vehicles, it is vital that we get our charging infrastructure in order. While great progress has been made, there is still much to do to convince drivers on the number, and importantly reliability, of charge posts. To bring confidence to potential electric car drivers we need more, and more reliable and accessible chargepoints as soon as possible.”

The automotive sector

The infrastructure experts

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, welcomed the announcement, but advised that charging infrastructure must keep pace with the rapid growth of sales of electric vehicles. He said: “The UK already has an enviable and ever-growing rapid charging network, so focus must be given to expanding public on-street and destination charging provision. Every stakeholder will have to play their part in this transition but, if industry and consumers are to have the certainty they need to invest, commensurate and binding targets must be set for infrastructure provision. Deployed nationally and at pace, this expansion would give drivers confidence they will be able to charge as easily as they would refuel, wherever they are.”

Paul Willcox, managing director at Vauxhall, said the manufacturer supports the government’s new strategy but feels it could have gone further

The National Infrastructure Commission raised its concerns about the lack of robust delivery and deployment plans for charging infrastructure in its Infrastructure Progress Review 2022. In response to the government strategy, commissioner Bridget Rosewell said: “This is a promising package which tries to tackle the big obstacles and the need for a visible network of rapid chargers alongside better local provision for those without driveways or garages to charge up overnight. Government has now accepted the scale of the challenge and the need to empower local authorities to help ensure chargepoint coverage is accessible and fairly priced for all drivers. We’re shifting into drive mode, and we have a decent map for the road ahead, but we now need to keep our foot down and actually deliver the infrastructure needed to give drivers confidence to make the switch.”

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INFRASTRUCTURE Private car uses

Private & Company use

Personal use

Home

Local Rapid hub

Business use

City Centre

En Route En Route

City Centre

Local Rapid hub

Home

Commuting

Home

Workplace

Local Rapid hub

En Route

City Centre

Source: EV Energy Taskforce

Searching for the sweet spot EV Energy Taskforce report explores how UK can deliver the tenfold increase in chargepoints needed to hit government’s 2050 net zero target

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he EV Energy Taskforce has set out five key conditions needed to hit the ‘sweet spot’ that meets consumer needs, drives uptake of electric vehicles and provides the right chargepoints in the right places.

The Charging the Future: Drivers for Success 2035 report from the multistakeholder Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce makes an independent assessment of the scale of the electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure challenge facing industry and government if we are to fulfil the ambition of phasing out internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and vans in time to deliver net zero by 2050.

The government-backed taskforce was convened in 2015 and marks a wideranging collaboration between the UK’s energy, infrastructure and transport industries. The taskforce, which is convened by the Zemo Partnership, has developed a plan to maximise the benefits and minimise the risks of the transition to electric vehicles by focussing on its energyrelated impacts as well as the need for EV users to have access to the right chargepoints in the right places.

The taskforce’s report was unveiled on 31 March, a week after the UK government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy said that a minimum of 300,000 public chargepoints will need to be deployed by 2030.

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In support of the government strategy the taskforce has identified key conditions that will create the ‘sweet spot’ for success, driving uptake and enabling an efficient and successful transition to electric vehicles in the UK. To deliver this requires coordinated action from the energy, infrastructure and automotive sectors as well as engagement from EV users.

Five key enabling conditions Through consultation with the widest range of expert stakeholders, the taskforce identified five key ‘enabling conditions’ to ensure the deployment of a charging infrastructure that delivers good value for EV drivers, that is attractive to investors as well as accessible and available enough to meet and build consumers’ confidence about their ability to charge when needed.

The key conditions identified are: • public charging needs to be built ahead of need to gain consumer confidence • it is essential that local authorities have the tools, capabilities, powers and resources to ensure integrated energy and transport planning • public chargepoints have to be used and usable – visible, accessible, connected, secure and interoperable to gain consumer confidence • smart charging, wherever appropriate, is essential if system cost is to be managed • informing, educating and protecting EV

users is critical to create the understanding necessary for mass market uptake.

A multi-sector approach Using a new multi-sector model the taskforce assessed, for the first time, what will be required of the UK’s public charging network to meet the needs of drivers, investors and the energy system. It shows how infrastructure can support the phase out of sales of new internal combustion engine vehicles between 2030-35, and deliver on the transport ambition of Sixth Carbon Budget.

The taskforce has calculated that the UK needs between 253,000 and 661,000 extra chargepoints by 2035 (with a central estimate of 490,000). There are fewer than 30,000 in place today. The model assumes that chargepoints will be built ahead of need to encourage EV uptake while, critically, also allowing operators to gain a return over the lifetime of their installations. However, the report observes that this is a complex market involving a diverse range of stakeholders and one which is not only fast growing, but very immature – like many such markets it carries opportunity, risk and uncertainty.

Philip New, chief executive of the Energy Systems Catapult and the EV Energy Taskforce chair said: “A key challenge in making the UK’s ambition to electrify road transport deliverable, is to

EVolution | April 2022

INFRASTRUCTURE UK chargepoints 2030-35 700,000

Charging the Future: Drivers for Success 2035

Number of chargepoints

600,000 500,000 Central case Increased access to near home charging

400,000

On-street Residential only

300,000

Shorter journeys Reduced commuting and other travel

200,000

Reduced commuting

define the type and scale of infrastructure that we’ll need and agree a coherent view of the goal and the order and priority of the steps needed to get us there. With greater certainty, we can build the confidence of those thinking of buying an electric vehicle, investing in a chargepoint or reinforcing the distribution network.

“The EV Energy Taskforce’s latest report covers a significant range of work to meet this challenge. It shows what an infrastructure that addresses consumer needs, integrates into the energy system, is investable and good value, would look like.

It also highlights the key enablers required if it is to be delivered and to perform as needed.”

Meeting the net zero challenge In order to meet the Sixth Carbon Budget and net zero emissions targets and end the sale of ICE vehicles by 2035, 2.5 million battery electric cars will need to be available and sold per year in the UK by 2030; a rate 13 times greater than the record-breaking levels seen in 2021 and consuming as much as 7% of forecast global battery car production. By 2035 electric cars and vans are expected to account for 74% of vehicles on the road.

To provide drivers with the confidence to buy electric vehicles and the means to charge them, near home charging provision will be a critical part of the mix. As many as 50% of public chargepoints will need to provide charging for drivers in homes without dedicated parking. The taskforce believes that local rapid-hub charging could provide a key part of this mix. Higher energy throughput gives such installations the potential to offer better economic returns than on-street charging and be price competitive for users.

En route rapid charging is essential to support long-distance journeys. By 2035 60,000 such chargepoints will be needed along the strategic road network, more than 10 times the number in place today.

The rapid deployment of public chargepoints at this scale implies total UK investment in public chargepoints of £7bn by 2035, most of which the taskforce

EVolution | April 2022

Local Rapid hubs only

100,000

Lower cost on-street charge points

0 2030

2035

Source: EV Energy Taskforce

Total number of UK public chargepoints (2030 and 235) and impact of variations: availability to near home charging; journey lengths; overall vehicle mileage; and upfront costs of on-street residential chargepoints

believes can be delivered by the private sector. By 2035, electricity demand from the transport sector is projected to rise to 55 TWh per year by 2035 making up 14% of total UK demand (equivalent to the electricity now consumed by 18 million homes).

Smart charging is identified as being an essential component of an efficient, costeffective and low embedded carbon energy system as it can reduce the requirement for network reinforcement by lowering peak demands. Domestic and slow-speed public chargepoints can also reduce charging prices by 25% or more.

A range of views The taskforce’s Charging for Success report was unveiled at a conference in London.

Speaking at the launch event, transport minister Trudy Harrison MP said: “The EV Energy Taskforce’s plan comes hot on the heels of our landmark EV Infrastructure Strategy, which sets out our expectation to see around 300,000 chargers across the UK by 2030 – backed by over £1.6bn. The insight of industry is crucial as we roll out the strategy, and I look forward to continuing to work together as we drive towards our cleaner, greener EV future.”

James Court, chief executive of EVA England, said: “Although most EV drivers will charge at home, improving public electric vehicle charging confidence now will pave the road to the rapid adoption of electric vehicles needed over the next decade. Drivers want to easily pay for a charge at convenient and reliable public chargepoints and across chargepoint networks. Real-time information, such as service conditions and availability of chargepoints, are crucial for drivers planning to use the public charging network.”

Nina Skorupska, chief executive at the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), said: “The work of the EV Energy Taskforce highlights the important role that charging infrastructure has to play in making electric vehicles a viable option for all consumers and businesses. The UK electric vehicle charging network is already growing rapidly and ahead of demand, driven largely by private investment. To continue delivering infrastructure at the rate required – and to ensure equitable access to charging across the country – a combination of public funding and innovative business models will be needed.”

Fintan Slye, executive director at National Grid ESO, said: “Smart charging and vehicle-to-grid provides an opportunity to reduce peak demand, driving down system operation costs and consumers’ bills. This enhanced charging flexibility also allows EVs to charge when more renewable energy is on the system, reducing the need for fossil fuel generation and helping us to achieve our plans to run a 100% zero-carbon grid.”

Andy Eastlake, Zemo Partnership’s chief executive and deputy chair of the EV Energy Taskforce, said: “The development of a multi-stakeholder coordinated view on what is needed to deliver the electric vehicle charging revolution in the UK over the next decade is vital in aligning activity across sectors. Zemo Partnership has been working to decarbonise UK road transport since 2003. We’re proud of our role in convening the EV Energy Taskforce and bringing the broadest range of stakeholders together to tackle the electrification of transport, ensuring the electricity system and the charging infrastructure is ready for the mass take-up of EVs.”

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BUSINESS

BP to spend £1bn on EV infrastructure Investment will triple number of bp pulse chargepoints BP has announced new plans to invest £1bn in electric vehicle charging in the UK. Its EV charging business bp pulse intends to make the investment over the next 10 years helping to meet the UK’s fast-growing demand for EV charging and support the country’s transition to low carbon transportation for both consumers and fleets.

The investment will allow bp pulse to deliver more rapid and ultra-fast chargers in key locations, expand fleet products and services, and launch new home charge digital products and services.

BP claims the investment will enable bp pulse to: • approximately triple the number of public charging points in its UK network • accelerate the roll out of

BP wants to increase number of ultra-fast charging points

300kW and 150kW ultra-fast charging points that are able to provide EV drivers up to 100 miles of range in around 10 minutes of charging, depending on the model of electric vehicle • upgrade its current EV charging technology across its public charging network to improve reliability • support hundreds of new jobs in the UK.

Richard Bartlett, senior vice president, bp pulse, said: “This £1bn investment is vital to provide the charging infrastructure the UK needs.

We’re investing to build a world-class network. This investment allows us to deliver more high-speed charging in dedicated hubs and on existing fuel and convenience sites.”

The announcement came as transport secretary Grant

Shapps visited bp pulse’s UK headquarters for network expansion and customer care and operational centre in Milton Keynes to unveil the government’s EV Infrastructure Strategy.

Shapps said: “I am delighted that bp pulse is supporting the transition to cleaner vehicles as we accelerate towards our net zero ambitions and boost green jobs opportunities right across the UK. Convenient, reliable and affordable charging is key to our green revolution.

“This step comes alongside the government’s publication of its landmark EV Infrastructure Strategy, showcasing the huge commitment of both the public and private sector in the nationwide switch to electric vehicles.

“EVs benefit from lower fuel, running and maintenance costs than their petrol and diesel equivalents and the strategy hopes to encourage drivers across the nation to make the switch.”

Uber invests £5m in 700 EV charger boost for London Over 700 fast EV chargers will be installed by Uber on the streets of Newham, Brent and Redbridge, boosting London’s overall charging network by over 7%.

The new chargers are the result of a £5m investment from ride-hailing app Uber, which is working in collaboration with each borough to determine where chargers should be installed. The on-street charging points will improve access to charging for those without driveways or home chargers.

The chargers will be Uber branded and available for everyone to use.

Jamie Heywood, Uber general manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, said:“Drivers often tell me that being able to access reliable charging near their homes is critical to their decision to switch to an electric vehicle. By targeting investment where it is most needed, we are confident that thousands more drivers will make the switch to electric, allowing them to benefit from lower running costs and higher earnings on Uber.”

More than 5,000 EVs are currently on the app in London, driving over one million electric miles per week.

Uber said it is on track to more than

EVolution | April 2022

Uber is working with the boroughs of Brent, Newham and Redbridge double this number by the end of the year and to become an all-electric platform in the capital by 2025.

Professional ride-hailing drivers are proving to be early mass adopters of EVs, with more than 90% of new vehicles joining the Uber app being fully electric, compared to 11.6% of new vehicles in the mass market during 2021.

Imtiaz Elahi, an EV driver from Newham who drives with Uber, said: “I’m seeing more and more drivers change to electric vehicles and I even convinced a few to make the switch myself. But with the uptake of EVs

increasing, the number of chargers on the street needs to keep up. If we want drivers to keep converting to EV we need to improve access to chargers in all London boroughs as well as across the country.”

The concentration of EV chargers is currently highest in central and west London, with over a quarter of chargers in Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham. However, with many drivers living in boroughs such as Brent, Newham and Redbridge, there is significant demand for more charging points in these parts of London.

Cllr Krupa Sheth, cabinet member for environment at Brent Council, said:“These charging points will provide greater accessibility for residents who do not have off-street parking, thus helping us promote the use of zero-emission vehicles.”

Rokhsana Fiaz, Mayor of Newham, said:“The agreement with Uber brings funding into Newham to help make charging more available, which can help support the jobs of thousands of Newham-based drivers. We promised to increase our EV charging points and this will help create a bigger network of chargers that all our residents can use and benefit from.”

Cllr Jas Athwal, leader of Redbridge Council, said:“We’re on a mission to expand Redbridge’s on-street electric vehicle charging network to make it easier for local people to switch to an electric vehicle, helping to cut air pollution and tackle climate change in the process.”

Later this year Uber plans to expand its EV-only Uber Green option from Zone One to the whole of London.

This will mean riders will be able to request an EV from anywhere in the city for the same price as an UberX. Drivers will earn 13% more when taking trips on Uber Green.

13

TECHNOLOGY

ZipCharge Go wins British Engineering Excellence Award Power bank on wheels enables EV drivers to charge wherever they park ZipCharge has won a British Engineering Excellence Award for its Go portable electric vehicle charger.

The R&D Project of the Year trophy was presented in recognition of ZipCharge’s R&D programme and putting the charger through meticulous automotive industry car development processes and standard trials to ensure it is ready for market in early 2023.

The Go portable EV charger is now advancing to validation prototype (VP) stage with designs released for manufacture and hardware testing well underway.

The ZipCharge Go removes a common barrier to EV ownership by bringing the possibility of home charging to anyone who cannot currently plug-in at their house. In the UK alone, 8.5 million or 40% of car-owning

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households are without designated or off-street parking. Elsewhere, this figure reaches 60% for example in Italy, Spain, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea and in major cities in the USA, China and India.

ZipCharge co-founder Richie Sibal said: “Winning this award is terrific recognition of the hard work and dedication the team has invested in making the ZipCharge Go a portable EV charger you can use every day, whatever the weather and in

Jonathan Carrier and Richie Sibal

any location. Our customers will expect their EV power bank to be as robust and hardwearing as their vehicle, so we have implemented exhaustive automotive industry testing standards to the unit, the electronics and the software. We’re highly confident it will work perfectly wherever they park their EVs.” ZipCharge co-founder Jonathan Carrier added: “ZipCharge is a great example of British engineering and innovation. Winning this award underlines the UK’s

position as leaders at the forefront of electrification. The UK is globally recognised as engineering some of the best EVs in the world, from the Nissan Leaf to the LEVC Taxi.

Now our EV charging products are engineered to the same exacting quality.”

The British Engineering Excellence Awards have been running since 2009 to champion and celebrate design and innovation within the UK. Philippa Oldham, chair of the awards and stakeholder engagement director at the Advanced Propulsion Centre, said: “ZipCharge took an innovative approach to develop a product that addresses a real need in the fast-growing EV market. It’s a simple concept, but with quite complex technical challenges and the judges were impressed with how they managed this.

The value and use case for a portable EV charger is evident,with the potential to break down barriers to EV ownership and I look forward to seeing this product come to market.”

EVolution | April 2022

TECHNOLOGY

APT Skidata launches Charge System integrates parking payments and EV charging APT Skidata has launched a system that allows electric vehicle (EV) drivers to pay for parking and re-charging services in one transaction. Known as Charge, the solution combines the company’s ePlug charging stations with its Parking.Logic management system to enable customers to pay for parking and charging at the same time through the standard pay machine or at the exit.

Charge enables EV drivers to pay without the need for an additional app or payment terminal. “The demand for EVs and chargers has surged over the last four years, with a 66% increase in the number of EVs on the road since 2019,” said Steve Murphy, managing director of APT Skidata. “While there has been a rise in the number of public EV chargers, with 22,000 available, the number is limited when compared to the 1 million EVs on the road, resulting in a ratio of one charger per 43 EVs. “Drivers readily complain that charging points are often inconveniently sited, there are too many networks, and there are already too many apps.”

APT Skidata’s Charge system

Murphy said that with up to 20 million EVs expected on roads by 2030, systems such as Charge will help fill a logical gap.

“Car parks provide the ideal opportunity to charge your EV, and despite having all this space to add chargepoints, very little space is currently given over to EV charging,” he said.

“One of the barriers is that there has been no true integration between the parking systems but thanks to Charge this is now possible. Charge provides a better, more convenient solution to the customer, while helping car park operators to make

their site a destination with all the benefits this brings to local communities and none of the hassle of any additional third-party integrations. So, if you want to add EV charging to your site it does not have to be complicated. In fact, if you know how to use Parking.Logic, then you already know how to manage EV charging.”

APT Skidata’s ePlug chargepoints are available as either wall or pedestal mounted and come with a standard type two connector to a maximum of 22kW. Each ePlug operates alongside APT Skidata’s eSelector user interface, greeting users with a comprehensive charging guide and instructions.

Customers can check out using a 2D barcode, QR code, or with their licence plate when an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system is installed.

Murphy said the charging process is as simple as parking. “Customers simply arrive, plug in, identify themselves, and go about their business while their vehicle charges,” he said. “On their return, they pay for their parking and charging in one single transaction, unplug their vehicle and they’re on their way. It couldn’t be easier. We’re making EV charging available to everyone, in places where everyone goes.”

Flowbird chargepoints powered up in Wokingham Flowbird Smart City UK has completed its first local authority electric vehicle (EV) chargepoint pilot project for Wokingham Borough Council.

The infrastructure upgrade will help meet demand for the growing use of EVs across the Berkshire borough.

EV drivers in Wokingham can access Flowbird Smart City UK’s app which charges for both the parking session and the kW consumed, allowing the council to offer combined or separate parking and charging rates. The app can be accessed by registered users or guests.

Flowbird Smart City UK’s Cale Web Terminal units can also be linked directly to the chargepoints. The company claims this is the first time a pay & display terminal will provide options for everyday park & charge users.

Danny Hassett, Flowbird’s managing director Smart City

EVolution | April 2022

A Flowbird chargepoint in Wokingham

UK, says: “Wokingham’s new EV connectivity will be innovative, as linking a payment terminal to a chargepoint is a new development in parking and charging.

“As EVs move from early adopters to the mainstream, people need simple ways to

both park and charge and the option to pay in whichever ways suits them. And councils need ways to price both parking and charging separately or as a bundle. This solution will meet both needs for the first time.

“The system is backed up with a 24/7 support line to

help end-users troubleshoot unforeseen operational issues – offering a solution to out-ofservice terminals that frustrates users and deters EV uptake.”

The new EV chargepoints are located in three busy parking sites across the borough – Dinton Pastures Country Park, Carnival Pool MSCP and Shute End Eastern car parks. All are threephased, which give out a 22kWh charge, and support all new EVs that utilise a standard AC charger.

Geoff Hislop, parking manager, highways and transport, at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “We chose Flowbird Smart City UK for this trial as their solutions are both cutting-edge and reliable. We are confident we now have infrastructure that will support the demand for electric vehicle use now and in the future.”

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MobilityHubs_LTT_fullpage_ad.qxp_Layout 1 27/04/2022 11:16 Page 1

Organised by:

Headline Sponsor:

Event partners:

Supported by:

Creating connected spaces that encourage sustainable travel

Wednesday 25 May 2022 l 15 Hatfields, London SE1 The idea of providing a concentration of mobility services at one place is emerging as a way of creating sustainable public transport systems.

Speakers

Exhibitors

Confirmed speakers and panellists taking part in Mobility Hubs 2022 include:

Confirmed exhibitors include:

When reimagined as mobility hubs, car parks are no longer just places to store vehicles. Instead they become positive places that offer co-located services such as electric vehicle (EV) charging and shared mobility services.

l Mihir Benison, Arup

Mobility hubs also represent the next step in the evolution of park & ride services, which will become genuine interchanges where people can switch from private cars to buses, trains, cycles and walking.

l Sam Hunn, Fonix

EV hubs offer drivers access to chargepoints in car parks at destinations such as shopping centres or in service area style facilities on major roads. The parallel emergence of service hubs is seeing other car parks acting as bases for logistics services and a range of activities such as ‘dark kitchens’ and ‘dark stores’.

l Matthew Ledbury, CoMoUK

This one-day conference will see speakers and expert panels explore the design, implementation and operation of mobility, EV and service hubs.

l Matthew Clark, Steer l Keith Fisken, SEStran l Ben Grocott, Mobilize Power Solutions

l Fiona Jenkins, Steer l Habib Khan, Meristem Design l James Lancaster, Enterprise Rent-a-Car

l Jennie Martin, ITS (UK) l Paul Moorby OBE, Chipside l Tina Mould, Oxford City Council

Sponsorship & exhibition The event’s exhibition provides an excellent opportunity to showcase your systems and services. To find out how your organisation can be part of the day contact Jason Conboy on: jason.conboy@landor.co.uk

l Grace Packard, Voi l Fiona Petch, Fatkin

Delegate rates

l Mark Potter, Potter Church & Holmes Architects

First Delegate

£225 + VAT

Additional Delegate

£150 + VAT

More speakers to be confirmed soon

www.mobilityhubs.uk