Reports are predicting that by August 2020 the number of electric car charging locations will overtake petrol stations .

The electric vehicle ( EV ) market is on the march in the UK , a point that cannot be denied . The number of EVs sold is on the rise , and so too is the number of public charge points available to EV drivers making it that much easier . We used to talk about ‘ range anxiety ’ and the worry of running out of power before reaching the next charging point ; we were worried also about the lack of infrastructure , and the availability of a charge when we needed it ; and there was concern also about the time taken for a battery to recharge . But with significant technological developments , those days are largely behind us and those issues have been ( or are being ) overcome .

The increasing take up of EVs is being led by private owners and government associated bodies , but in the corporate world , while the picture is positive , confidence is still lacking . Perhaps there is an element of scepticism around corporate fleets ’ transformation to EVs , with the initial capital expenditure often cited as a central barrier to doing so . Added to that , there is often the view that charging EVs , particularly fleets of EVs , is an expensive business .

Yet as these barriers are being broken down with the development of new technologies and a better understanding of the long term savings involved , it is important for electrical contractors to understand the implications : One , as a potential target for new business ; And two , for their own fleets .

Change in focus

Addressing the need for faster charging , technological developments are such that Rapid and Fast charging units can now charge an EV to 80 per cent battery life within 30 minutes and one hour respectively . Not only that , but the number of public charging points installed across the country has grown to become a genuine network , and reports are predicting that by August 2020 the number of electric car charging locations will overtake petrol stations . Put another way , in two and half years you will find an EV charge point before you find a petrol station .

But what does this mean for business owners operating a fleet of electric vehicles with charging facilities on site ?

This will inevitably mean that you will be drawing more electricity from the grid . For faster charging more electricity is required ( and in a shorter space of time ), increasing the short term power demand .

This is placing increasing pressure on an already strained power grid , a factor that has always been a concern for the EV market . The challenge is how to have the power available when it is needed , but at a manageable cost . This is especially important for fleets . The solution , in part at least , is to look at energy storage solutions .

Each premises has an allotted level of energy , and while EV charging can use a significant proportion of this allocation it is crucial not to exceed it . By harnessing the power of second-life EV and hybrid battery packs , energy storage solutions open the door to low cost charging by storing electrical energy for future use . They allow you to draw electricity from the power grid outside of peak hours when the cost of electricity is higher , thus reducing the overall cost of EV charging altogether . The benefits go further than this – since fleets on charge during peak times will be able to draw energy from two sources , both the power grid and the energy storage solution , you will have a more secure and stable charging facility .

‘ Rapid and Fast charging units can now charge an EV to 80 per cent battery life within 30 minutes and one hour respectively .’

Energy storage is an essential development for the industry ; to a certain extent it is already available ( our energy storage solution is due to be installed on site for the first time in early 2017 ) and one that will aid the transfer of company fleets to EVs . But as time progresses , the efficiency of these systems will , much like the decreasing charging times , have a positive impact on the take up of EVs .

Managing power

Anyone operating an EV fleet – even if it is only a fleet of two vehicles – wants the simultaneous charging to run smoothly , and combining energy storage with another of the latest technologies , load distribution , helps to ensure this .

Load distribution technology manages the supply of power to each charge point , ensuring that the available power is distributed evenly . As a result , load distribution prevents power overload on the sites incoming power supply . This helps to eliminate the potential of complete power failure across the chargers while optimising the charge times for the vehicles connected .

In addition to this , the technology intelligently recognises when an EV is fully charged , and automatically redistributes that charger ’ s power usage to the other EVs optimising the supply of charge for all of the EVs using the system .

The take up of EVs is set to continue , and with a more established infrastructure , and further enhanced technologies , it will be the forward thinking , small and medium sized businesses that can steal the march on their competitors , reduce their fleet operating costs and make the biggest positive impact on the country ’ s carbon footprint .

46 | February 2017