Can the UK lead the world in smart EV charging?
The UK introduces EV charging mandates and world-first legislation
So how did we get here?
TheAutomated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018(AEV Act) passed which gives Government powers through secondary legislation to mandate that all EV chargepoints sold and installed in the UK have smart functionality and meet minimum device-level requirements.
In response, the Government did a big consultation with stakeholders and interested parties in 2019 and published a summary of responses to the consultation. Now they’ve written up the Government’s policy response.
So it’s basically a case of here’s what people said, and here’s our response with a two-phase plan. I’m not going to summarise the whole document.
But the media mostly discusses the first phase. It includes minimum standards around cyber security, interoperability, and grid stability — all good stuff. All ignored by the Daily Mail.
So let’s break down the two big issues worrying everyone. These are peak time restrictions and randomized display functions.
Default setting for peak times in smart chargers
Firstly, to be clear, public chargers and rapid chargers, on motorways are exempt from peak times. So, the risk of running out of energy on a motorway is not as great as many fear.
The much feared default off-peak mode would delay charging until a specified off-peak time.
Smart charge points will come pre-set to prevent automatic charging during peak times. Peak times are 8 am to 11 am and 4 pm to 10 pm on weekdays.
The legislation specifies time windows instead of an off-peak period, to avoid the risk of causing a secondary peak period.
However, the user must be able to edit or remove this setting. This can accommodate night shift works and those already using smart tariffs.
An opportunity for competitive pricing and service offerings for EV owners
This is where things actually get really interesting for consumers. Smart energy meters will be compulsory in UK homes by 2025.
As a result, many utility companies have created competitive tariff offers for EV owners who do most of their EV charging at home and typically consume more energy:
EV charging and grid stability: randomized delay function
The government is requiringsmart EV charger makers to ensure they have a function that randomly delays the start time of any load control action. This randomized delay function will help reduce the risk of potential grid stability issues where large numbers of chargepoints switch on or off at the same time.
What this means in plain language is that the Government is setting a rule that delays EV charging in times of serious grid instability.
It’s really not all that exciting as they stipulate that “the chargepoint must be configured in a way that allows the user to override this delay function.”
Further, it’s not unusual, home smart meters already have a remote disconnect contactor, making it possible to switch them off in significant times of peak demand. When I lived in Australia, this included during severe bushfires, and there were always ways to get an exemption.
I am more concerned over a potential scenario where utility companies could use this as a competitive advantage by disconnecting first those who pay the least for electricity — it’s hard to benefit from the competitionwithout the money to have a meaningful choice.
However, local energy networks existed long before electric vehicles. They’re constantly expanding the use of wind and solar to meet customer demand and government targets.
In turn, we’re likely to see the acceleration of new innovation that maintains the integrity of the grid.
Mandatory EV charging in new homes and offices
It’s also worth putting this news in the wider context of the EV rollout in the UK.
In a world-first, the British government is introducing legislation later this year that requires allnewly built homes and offices to feature EV chargersin England.
Announced byTransport Minister Rachel Maclean, the law will see new homes equipped with devices to automatically charge vehicles during off-peak periods. New office blocks will need to install a charge point for every five parking spaces.
The Government predicts that the mandate for home and office will begin in 2022.
Can home EV charging help accelerate EV adoption?
Ok, mandatory EV chargers are awesome. But what if you live in an apartment building without a car park?
According to EV charger companyUbitricity,more than 60% of households in English citiesare without off-street parking. This rises to 68% for people living in social housing. For this substantial group, access to affordable street-based EV charging will be essential to enter the EV market.
However, we’re also seeing an international trend of homes deliberately builtwithout a car park.Instead, residents have easy access to car sharing, micromobility, and public transport.
Cars spend over 90% of their day unused, and the need for car parks will likely decline over the next couple of decades.
I never thought I’d compliment a Tory government
What we do see in all of this is a government with a plan.They’re not just dreaming about banning petrol and diesel car sales from 2030, and achieving net-zero emissions target by 2050.
Instead, they have introduced legislation and detailed to achieve these goals. They’ve welcomed extensive consultation, and allocated money to aid the process (I’m sure it’s not enough, but it never is).
I never thought I’d compliment a Tory government, but I come from Australia. The Australian government’s greatest environmental legacies areclimate inactionand itslove of coal.
The UK, in contrast, has a budget and plans to which it can be held accountable.
This year’sUnited Nations Climate Change Conference, aka COP26,is coming up soon. It will be interesting to see how other countries EV charging commitments stack up.
Do EVs excite your electrons? Do ebikes get your wheels spinning? Do self-driving cars get you all charged up?
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Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin. She focuses on all things mobility: ebikes, autonomous vehicles, VTOL, smart ci(show all)Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin. She focuses on all things mobility: ebikes, autonomous vehicles, VTOL, smart cities, and the future of alternative energy sources like electric batteries, solar, and hydrogen.
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