eMobility Teething Problems
As eMobility evolution accelerates, we must design and invest in future capabilities to keep EVs on the road.
Failure to align the ecosystem around growth of eMobility could halt progress. The EU is firmly on the road to eMobility, and the need for longevity and durability of our new infrastructure is at hand.
EU needs to expand, reinforce and digitize the grid to sustain the transformation. Without a reliable electricity supply, EVs will ultimately go nowhere!
Current Situation of eMobility
- Many countries have committed to zero-emission new car and van sales by 2035, with others promising to follow by 2040.
- Automakers are rewriting business models and reinventing powertrains. The biggest players have pledged to increase the numbers of electric models available and boost production of light commercial vehicles.
- Regulators are strengthening carbon dioxide (CO2) emission standards for passenger cars and LCVs under the European Commission’s ‘Fit for 55’ package of environmental reforms. Governments are offering incentives, including bonus payments and tax perks, to purchasers of EVs.
- Customers are being tempted by incentive schemes, cheaper operating costs and enhanced vehicle performance. The total cost of ownership of compact and mid-sized EVs now compares with petrol and diesel alternatives in most European countries.
- Battery costs have already fallen exponentially, and energy density is going up, making electrification a viable option for smaller trucks.
However, as customer acceptance is as big a driver of eMobility, we need to keep up momentum.
Vehicle range is improving so that EVs can travel further on a single charge. But drivers are worried about the adequacy and availability of public charging infrastructure, especially for longer journeys away from home.
As more EVs hit the road, more drivers will compete for the opportunity to charge. Queues will grow at charging stations. There are almost 400k public charging points in Europe: but adoption is patchy. Rural locations tend to be underserved compared with urban areas. EY has calculated that the predicted surge in EVs will warrant at least 65 million charge points – 9 million of which will be public and 56 million residential – by 2035 across Europe.
EU Power Grid Worries
EVs will not overload the electricity grid. It will cope and manage to juggle simultaneously the increased burden from distributed energy resources, heat pumps and the electrification of industry. Electricity demand from EV charging is expected to grow by 11% per year, adding 200TWh by the end of this decade.
‘Managed Charging’ Will Be Vital
Studies show that once EV penetration reaches 50%, network voltage deviations go beyond the standard level.Managed charging is a game changer. Aided by real-time operational systems and advanced applications, managed charging will control the available capacity, time and duration of charging and mitigate the risk of overloading the grid.
Charging can then take place when the electricity network has sufficient capacity, or when there is reduced demand or when electricity is cheaper. And that is a win-win for the grid and for the customer.
Want to know more?
At ADK INSIGHTS, we closely follow and obtain urban mobility insights. If you would like to continue to exchange views on the topic, please talk to us: Dam, Nimrod and Rob at ADK Insights. Or follow us on our LinkedIn Page.