Utility Week

Special report: EVs ELECTRIC VEHICLES SPECIAL REPORT 14 | 25TH -31ST MAY 2018 | UTILITY WEEK Charging concerns are the biggest obstacle for fleets As utilities, policymakers and end users came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities posed by EVs, infrastructure concerns were high on the agenda. T he market for electric vehicles is at a critical point, as it shis from "early- adopters" towards mass market take-up. This is being driven by policy as ministers seek to decarbonise transport and improve air quality; and by an increasing customer awareness of and interest in elec- tric vehicles. The UK government's recent announce- ment that it will ban the sale of all petrol and diesel cars by 2040, along with commitments made by many major automotive manufac- turers and growing consumer appetite, have shone a spotlight on EVs. It was with this in mind that delegates met at BMW's Mini Plant in Oxford for the first event of its kind – Accelerate, a unique working group hosted by Utility Week, and its sister brands edie and Network. Attendees at the event heard from six industry experts, before splitting into four working groups to discuss the key challenges and opportunities facing businesses in mak- ing the EV transition. The event – held in association with BMW, EY, UK Power Networks and the Energy Sys- tems Catapult – also provided participants with an opportunity to take their own elec- tric vehicle test drive and tour of the plant. During the discussions it became clear that utility company fleet managers are keen to exploit the benefits of EVs, and many feel duty-bound to be early movers in the adop- tion. However, the challenges extend beyond the expense of buying the vehicles. The availability of charging infrastruc- ture is a challenge that must be overcome before EVs can be widely adopted into fleets. One attendee expressed frustration that "the infrastructure just isn't there". UK Power Net- work Services head of markets Phil Hack, in his presentation, questioned how a company should charge its fleet. Should they wait for a national charging network, or ask employees to charge at home? This prompted further discussion about how employees should be reimbursed for the electricity they use in charging a fleet vehicle. In UKPN's group, delegates agreed that end-user businesses are cautious about adopting fully-electric vehicle fleets while charging infrastructure is limited in terms of size and location. In the meantime, many are exploring alternative low-carbon avenues such as biofuel-based vehicles. Among the suppliers in EY's group there was broad consensus that incompatibility of charging infrastructure is a major issue that needs to be addressed, both in terms of hardware and billing systems. Consum- ers want to be able charge their vehicles at any charger they come across without having to worry about whether they have the right charging socket or the right card. There was a clear preference for a market-led solution to the challenge of delivering infrastructure, although some participants suggested there may be a need for government intervention if charging providers are unwilling to come together to resolve the problem. That said, there was also agreement among attendees that a lack of accessible on- Event Accelerate BMW Mini Plant, Oxford, 17 May 2018

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