Electrical Contracting News (ECN) June 2017 | Page 46

SPECIAL
FEATURE
COMMERCIAL VEHICLES & EV INFRASTRUCTURE
KEEP ON RUNNING
Martin Hale, responsible for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in UK and Ireland at ABB, shares his views
on how to ensure that electric vehicle chargers will stand the test of time with an example from Edinburgh.
E
lectric vehicles (EVs) are
growing in popularity.
According to the Society
of Motor Manufacturers
and Traders, more than
95,000 pure electric
and hybrid vehicles
are on the road today,
potentially growing to 1.2 million by 2020.
But mass adoption will depend on local
authorities and commercial organisations
investing in EV charging infrastructure to
give drivers the confidence to go further for
longer. Although the market is relatively
new, operators and electrical contractors
should recommend reliable, future proof
infrastructure to their customers. High
reliability, safety and a good charging
experience will give operators the best
return on their investment.
The City of
Edinburgh Council
has deployed EV
charging technology
at Ingliston and
South Queensferry.
Technology trends
Although the market
is relatively new,
operators and
electrical contractors
should recommend
reliable, future proof
infrastructure to
their customers.
46 | June 2017
Broadly speaking there are two ways to
charge a car: Using the car’s onboard AC-
DC converter, or offboard using a roadside
AC-DC converter. Onboard converters are,
on the whole, low power meaning longer
charging times because car manufacturers
are keen to minimise the size, weight and
cost of car components.
The industry is moving towards DC
offboard charging as it offers higher power
for faster charging and gives more space and
weight for batteries, which increases range.
A typical 7kW AC onboard charger delivers a
full charge to a 24kWh battery in around four
hours, whereas a roadside 50kW DC charger
can do the same in under 30 minutes.
However, the next generation EVs will
have longer range and larger batteries that
will demand longer charging times. It is
important to opt for a charger that can deliver
‘DC offboard
charging
offers higher
power
for faster
charging and
gives more
space and
weight for
batteries,
which
increases
range.’
continuous power without a break without
overheating while charging larger batteries.
Connectivity is another important
aspect for successful payment
transactions, authentication and secure
data handling. Connectivity supports
remote servicing, which is key to reliability
and also enables upgrade and extension of
software and back-office functions to meet
future developments.
Safety and standards
Safety is another important factor as some
chargers have the potential to interfere with
sensitive electrical and electronic equipment
including pacemakers. Operators can reduce
any potential impact on health and other
equipment by specifying a charger that
has been independently certified to comply
with EMC (electromagnetic compatibility)
legislation for residential use (EN61000-6-3
(2007), class B).
Socket compatibility and charging
safety are governed by industry standards
CHAdeMO, developed in Japan and CCS
(Combined Charging System) jointly
by German and American car makers.
Installers can future proof infrastructure
by opting for the latest versions of these,
including CHAdeMO v1.0 in particular as it is
a major step forward from the previous v0.9
and has higher levels of safety and reliability.
Serving Scotland’s
road network
One operator that has taken these factors
into account is the City of Edinburgh Council.
The council appointed BMM Energy Solutions
to deploy charging technology at Ingliston
and South Queensferry, which are strategic
points on the road network. BMM installed
50kW ABB Terra 53 CJG DC rapid chargers
as well as 22kW AC charge points that are
compatible with all EVs already on the road.
The Terra chargers will play a
role in future proofing the council’s
infrastructure as EV numbers and types
grow. Because ABB has developed its
chargers in partnership with the world’s
top automotive manufacturers, the Terra
chargers are capable of charging the
larger batteries of future EVs by running
at full power for very long periods without
the need to pause for cooling.
Another benefit to the council is the
high reliability demonstrated by the 5,000
ABB Terra chargers worldwide, which
average an operational uptime of over 99.5
per cent. Remote service resolves more
than 60 per cent of issues in the remaining
0.5 per cent within minutes.
By installing DC chargers that have
been built for the future, BMM has helped
the City of Edinburgh Council make the
most of its investment.