Category: News

The UK Department for Transport today announced dedicated chargepoint funding will support people in making the switch from petrol and diesel cars to electric vehicles. Charging electric vehicles is set to get even easier thanks to hundreds of millions of funding made available for local authorities, homeowners and renters today, Monday, 18 March 2024.

The government continues to deliver its £381 million Local Electric Vehicle (LEVI) fund to councils, which can choose where is best to install chargepoints in their local area. Following the approval of the first five local authority applications in February 2024, payments to 44 additional councils, worth over £185 million, have now been approved to help residents charge their vehicles.   The funding will support the delivery of thousands of chargepoints across England, helping more drivers get around easily. Additionally, the local authorities that have already been allocated to the second round of LEVI funding will be able to apply to the fund from 2 April 2024, following those who have received funding in the first round and in a further boost to the chargepoint rollout.

Minister for Affordability and Skills Amanda Solloway said “This funding will make it easier for people to switch to electric vehicles.”

To further support electric vehicle (EV) drivers and families looking to switch to electric, the UK government is ensuring households without driveways or dedicated parking spaces can access the electric vehicle chargepoint grant. Delivering on its Plan for Drivers commitment to make EVs a more practical option, the £350 grant will be widened to those who own or rent and have access to adequate street parking.   The funding will drive down the cost of EV ownership by providing up to 75% off the cost of purchasing and installing a chargepoint, and applicants must also have permission from their council to install a cross-pavement charging solution. Applications can be made online.

Edmund King OBE, AA president, said “AA surveys show that one of the main reasons why many drivers are hesitant towards switching to EVs is the perception that there are not enough charging points. To give confidence to drivers now and for the future, we need to overcome these barriers, which will help unlock cleaner, greener motoring for all. Extending grants to those without off-street parking is a step in the right direction.”  

More and more drivers are making the switch to electric vehicles, with fully electric vehicles accounting for over 16% of the new UK car market in 2023, according to industry statistics. Government and industry are working to install chargepoints at speed, with 56,983 public chargepoints now installed across the UK, a 47% increase compared to this time last year.

The full press release from UK Department for Transport can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/boost-for-drivers-as-millions-delivered-for-ev-chargepoints-across-the-country

#EVCharging #EVCI

Official statistics on electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure published by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) on 26 July 2023 show that there were 44,020 public electric vehicle charging devices installed in the UK as on 1 July 2023. of which 8,461 were rated “rapid” devices or above, which represents 19% of all charging devices 24,918 were rated “fast” chargers, which represents 57% of all charging devices. The statistics are based on data provided by Zapmap. Since 1 July 2022, the number of installed public devices has increased by 12,009, a 38% year-on-year increase.

The new Department for Transport report shows the disparity in the rollout of EV charging infrastructure across different regions and nations of the UK. While the average public EV charging provision in the UK was 66 per 100,000 people. Northern Ireland has just 23 devices per 100,000 people, followed by the North-West of England and East Midlands with 39 and 43 devices per 100,000 respectively. London, with the highest level of provision, has almost four times more than the North-West of England, with 152 charge points per 100,000 population. It was encouraging to note that Scotland had the next highest at 73 devices per 100,000 although Scotland had the smallest increase in the number of total charging devices between April to June 2023 at just 1.7%. It must be noted that the number of available devices can fluctuate for a range of reasons. Increases likely reflect the installation of new devices, whilst owners and operators can choose to temporarily or permanently decommission or replace devices. Charging devices can also be unavailable due to faults, maintenance or other restrictions in the area where they are located, though data on the status of charging devices is not held by DfT.

The report can be accessed at the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/electric-vehicle-charging-device-statistics-july-2023/electric-vehicle-charging-device-statistics-july-2023

An interactive map of the data has also been published by Department for Transport (DfT) which can be accessed at the link below:

https://maps.dft.gov.uk/ev-charging-map/index.html

After Vahanomy joined the British Parking Association (BPA) earlier this year, I embarked on a trip to Birmingham for the highly anticipated Parkex/Traffex event at the NEC on 6th and 7th June 2023.

Having started my day early and caught a punctual train, I arrived at the venue around lunchtime on the first day. The event was bustling with activity, featuring numerous delegates and over 100 exhibitions showcasing a wide range of offerings, from data collectors to equipment providers. My primary objective was to attend several presentations at the EV Infrastructure forum, which centred around various public EV charging topics.

The industry representatives delivered exceptional presentations, including a stimulating discussion on National Highways’ plan to implement an Electrification Cable Management system for Rapid Charge points at 114 locations along motorways and major A roads.

One of the most debated topics was PAS1899, which focused on accessibility for EV chargers. PAS 1899:2022 is a new specification that sets out the minimum accessibility standards for public EV charge points, considering the needs of all users, including disabled and older people. This standard has been produced by the British Standards Institution (BSI), co-sponsored by Motability, and the UK Government’s Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV). There was considerable discussion about establishing a minimum standard for charging point requirements to avoid the potential need for retrofitting. Additionally, there was a broader conversation about pavement access and the utilisation of land for various purposes, extending beyond the current charge point options and future ones entering the market.

Another contentious issue that drew significant attention was payment methods. Some European countries shared their experiences in dealing with similar challenges and highlighted the support they received from governments and industry bodies to ensure that Charging Point Operators (CPOs) embrace non-contractual tap-and-go payment options usable at any charge point. Given the multitude of CPOs in the UK market, this is certainly something worth considering.

Throughout my time at the event, I thoroughly enjoyed the presentations delivered by government representatives, equipment providers, policy and planning experts, and professionals in payment technologies and e-commerce.

Matt Wolstenholme

matt@vahanomy.com

As a subject matter expert in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, I have been tasked with evaluating the feasibility of converting an existing car parking space to a public EV charging station. The goal of this case study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the process, costs, benefits, and potential challenges associated with this project.

Background: The car parking space in question is located in a busy commercial area in a major city. It is currently used by employees of a nearby office building and is typically at or near capacity during business hours. The building owners are interested in exploring the possibility of converting this parking space into a public EV charging station to provide a valuable service to the community and attract new customers.

Feasibility: The first step in the process is to determine if the site is suitable for an EV charging station. This involves evaluating the electrical infrastructure, parking space configuration, and local regulations. After conducting a site survey, it was determined that the site is suitable for a Level 2 charging station, which requires a 240-volt circuit. The parking space can accommodate up to two EV charging stations with ample space for vehicles to manoeuvre in and out of the space. Local regulations were also reviewed, and it was found that there are no significant barriers to the installation of an EV charging station at this location.

Costs: The costs associated with converting the parking space to an EV charging station can be broken down into three categories: infrastructure, equipment, and ongoing maintenance. Infrastructure costs include the installation of electrical service, conduit, and wiring from the utility meter to the charging station location. Equipment costs include charging stations, mounting hardware, and a payment system. Ongoing maintenance costs include routine inspections and repairs, as well as software updates and electricity costs.

Benefits: There are several benefits to converting the parking space to an EV charging station. First and foremost, it will provide a valuable service to the community by allowing EV drivers to conveniently charge their vehicles while running errands or shopping in the area. This can help attract new customers to the nearby businesses, as well as increase the visibility of the building and its owners. Additionally, installing EV charging stations can enhance the building’s sustainability and promote its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. Finally, the building owners may be eligible for federal and state tax incentives for installing EV charging stations.

Challenges: There are several potential challenges associated with converting the parking space to an EV charging station. The most significant challenge is ensuring that the charging stations are used fairly and efficiently. This can be addressed by implementing a payment system that charges users for the time they spend charging their vehicle, rather than a flat fee. Additionally, the building owners must ensure that the charging stations are maintained and kept in good working order to prevent downtime or malfunctions.

Conclusion: Based on the analysis presented in this case study, converting the parking space to an EV charging station is a feasible and potentially beneficial project for the building owners. While there are costs and challenges associated with the project, the benefits of providing a valuable service to the community and promoting sustainability outweigh the drawbacks. With proper planning and implementation, the building owners can successfully convert the parking space to an EV charging station and contribute to the growth of the EV infrastructure in the area.