Technical Insight
Charging: How to overcome a key speedbump on the road to electric future MARTIN ELEXA
Sygic a.s.
T
he electric revolution in road transportation is underway. Even though internal combustion engines (ICE) have powered vehicles almost exclusively for the past 130+ years, electric motors now seem to be finally taking over. Yet, an essential limitation still flies under the radar.
Strides in battery technology along with the greater simplicity of electric motors (less parts and complex integrated systems; easier to assemble and service), not to mention their environmental benefits, are the chief factors behind their speedy rise over the last five years. So speedy in fact, that the number of new fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars registered in the European Union has reached over 20% and exceeded dieselpowered cars for the first time in August 2021. With petrol cars holding about 60% of the European market share, electric vehicles (EV) still have a long way to go. But in 2011, diesel accounted for 55% of new car sales in Europe. Last August? Barely 20%. And petrol car sales have also already started to decline.
that hydrogen will be too inefficient and expensive for long-haul transportation. The company has already produced both electric and hydrogen vehicles. Currently, it is the only manufacturer with hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles in operations with customers. “Going forward the use of hydrogen will be limited, since three times as much renewable electricity is needed to power a hydrogen truck compared to a battery electric truck. A great deal of energy is lost in the production, distribution, and conversion back to electricity. Repair and maintenance also need to be considered. The cost for a hydrogen vehicle will be higher than for a battery electric vehicle as its systems are more complex, such as an extensive cooling system. Furthermore, hydrogen is an explosive gas which requires more maintenance to ensure safety,” Scania explained in a statement. In addition, battery technology is fast advancing, with charging time, cycles, and economics per kilogram improving rapidly. “This means that electric solutions will become more cost effective, primarily in repetitive and predictable applications. They will gradually overtake Scania’s industry-leading fossil and biofuel-powered solutions,“ the company added.
Truck manufacturers join the party
A truly global push – but with a twist
Electric power seems to be prevailing not only on the expense of ICEs in passenger cars. Clean hydrogen has also been pushed as the only sustainable green solution for long-distance trucking – based on claims that batteries won’t be able to provide the power and driving range required. However, one of the world’s largest truck manufacturers, Scania, has stated last year
EVs have been strongly backed also at last November’s COP26 in Glasgow, during the summit’s Transport Day. A group of more than 100 countries, states, cities, and companies have committed to phasing out petrol and diesel car sales by 2040, some even as soon as 2035. Major signatories from the automotive industry include Ford, General Motors,
EVs already overtaking ICEs
16 | Telematics Wire | February 2022
Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover and BYD Co. Governments of the UK, Canada New Zealand, Mexico, India and numerous European countries, individual cities such as Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, states of California and New York, as well as major fleet owners and corporations with large purchasing power have declared their commitment. With all of the above going electromobility’s way, there’s one significant bottleneck that could hold up and spread doubt about the adoption of EVs: Where, when, and for how much will all these cars get charged?
Expanding the charging network The shift needs to take into account much more than just the vehicles themselves. And not even many of those looking to purchase their very first electric car are sufficiently aware of the challenge. Governments are only waking up to the problem and manufacturers and charging providers have been all approaching it on their own terms – so far. There are approximately 1.3 million public EV charging points around the globe at the moment. Yet if the world aims to reach carbon neutrality halfway through the 21st century, by 2030 two thirds of the global car market must consist of EV sales. And then that number has to grow to 100% by 2050. According to an estimate by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to satisfy this charging demand, 40 million public charging points would be needed. That translates to a $90 billion investment every year until the end of the current decade. And five times as many to achieve carbon neutrality 20 years later. Bloomberg predicts that in case of a
