Utility Week

Special report: EVs UTILITY WEEK | 25TH -31ST MAY 2018 | 11 W ith falling purchase costs and an ever-increas- ing charging network likely to fuel widespread adoption of EVs, electricity networks have a role to play in adapting to the changes taking place in the car industry and consumer behaviour. These new demands mean our power network and infrastructure need to transform to ensure the power continues to flow; in other words, the transition from distribution network operator (DNO) to distribution systems operator (DSO). Key to this transition is the Energy Network Asso- ciation's Open Networks Project, which is laying the foundation for the smart grid in the UK. A collaborative project that brings together industry and policymakers, it aims to realise a managed transition to DSO through a unified approach, where new systems, trials and learn- ings can be shared. This major energy industry initiative will transform the way our energy networks work, and key areas of focus include the relationships between transmission and distribution operators; the transition from DNO to DSO and what this means for distributors; future charging requirements and meeting customer expectations. This collaboration between networks doesn't end with the Open Networks project, and the ENA has refo- cused its Low Carbon Technologies group to co-ordinate the work of its members in a consistent and effective manner so that when it comes to EVs and other low carbon technologies connecting to the network, best practice is available to everyone across the UK. Meeting customer expectations around EVs is one area in particular where the DSO transition has a role to play, particularly in relation to understanding usage pat- terns and how that relates to smart charging. Across the industry, we have found evidence of diversity in charg- ing behaviour and it's encouraging that most customers are willing to engage with smart charging to provide the flexibility needed across the power networks to support a variety of charging patterns to prevent peaks in usage. Earlier this year, the government announced £30 mil- lion in funding for 21 vehicle-to-grid projects, setting the ball rolling for customers to sell the electricity stored in their vehicles back to the grid to help supply energy dur- ing peak demand. While innovation in this area shows potential, ensuring adequate charging infrastructure is, ultimately, what will enable consumers to embrace EVs. Although the road to electrification of transport may not be completely clear, the momentum is real and the impact on our networks will be dramatic. Innovation trials have already helped give the industry an informed understanding of the implications, the challenge now is to get the right mechanisms and governance in place before EVs become the norm rather than the exception. With collaborative working across industry and with government, we are on track to do just that. Comment: Stewart Reid, head of DSO and innovation, SSEN Foundation work through the Open Networks project W hether it's sitting behind the wheel for our daily commutes, travelling for holidays or days out with the family, cars are an essential part of modern life. While interest in electric vehicles continues to rise, "range anxiety", coupled with the lack of fast charging points across the UK, is currently putting people off making the switch to electric. But the fear of running out of power while driving isn't unique to EVs. Every day people up and down the country are rescued as a result of empty tanks and misjudged fuel gauges. This is also a form of "range anxiety". It is just one we have grown to live with and stop- ping to refuel is now a normal part of everyday life. So, is "range anxiety" for EVs more about perception than reality? And does the success in their growth lie in accepting their limitations while working to improve infrastructure? Limited battery capacity and long charging times can deter drivers, but these issues don't have to be a barrier to accessing new technology. At National Grid, we have come up with a solution which will help open up the world of EVs to longer distance and more cautious UK travellers. For two-car families, the first car covers an average of 37 miles a day, while the second travels a much shorter distance of 13 miles a day. The current 150/200 miles range cars are adequate for this, meaning the answer to perception of range anxiety is not just bigger batteries, but looking at how products can fit in with our lifestyles. Larger capacity batteries add cost and weight, making them less efficient, whereas cheaper 200-mile range cars could be the answer to mass market uptake and avoid pricing families out of the market. People are naturally cautious, and when investing in high ticket items such as cars we tend to plan for the biggest thing we do – such as the one drive to Cornwall each year when a much larger battery would be needed than for the average daily commute. Rather than waiting for larger battery cars to become lighter and more affordable, we believe the answer to widening the use of EVs lies in investing in the infrastructure designed to make travelling and charging easier so to fit in with long journeys and shorter rest stops. We propose providing enough power network capacity to sup- port a sufficient number of 350kw rapid chargers over 50 strategic locations across the UK. This would avoid queues at peak times and mean that batteries can charge in 5 to 12 minutes – not much more than the time it takes to fill up at the petrol station. When we mapped England and Wales motorways we found that 50 optimally placed locations would ensure that 96 per cent of people using the road network were within 50 miles in any direction of suf- ficient ultra-rapid chargers. This would help combat range anxiety. We already have the existing land and grid connections needed to install these charging points and believe it is important to show that infrastructure needn't be a barrier to EV growth and a structured and co-ordinated roll out of rapid chargers is achievable. Our modelling also considered the needs of not just battery elec- tric vehicles but also hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and the capacity modelled could make hydrogen on site too. This solution is about future-proofing so that as the EV market grows, the infrastructure is in place to support it. It's about doing it once and doing it right and by taking whole-system approach we are both preparing for and investing in the future. Comment: Graeme Cooper, project director for EVs, National Grid Is 'range anxiety' more about perception than reality?

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