The issue of EV charging is still a topic raised by many who are considering making the switch over from an ICE vehicle. With studies showing that over 40% of homeowners in UK don't have driveway access, alternative charging solutions are needed to ensure sustainable EV growth and customer confidence.
A global specialist in energy management and automation, Schneider Electric, provides a range of EV Charging & Energy management solutions, including on-site assessment, installation, and a range of electric car chargers for owners to manage their charging stations in real time.
We spoke with Abigail Middleton, eMobility business leader UK and Ireland, Schneider Electric, to discuss solutions when it comes to EV charging, and how Governments and OEMs can help.
Abigail Middleton
Just Auto (JA): Could you provide some background on the company?
Abigail Middleton (AM): Schneider Electric is one of the market leaders in electrical power. We've been leading sustainability for a very long time. We do everything from a plug socket in your house, from our own devices, all the way through to MV infrastructure, which is where EV has naturally found a home with us. We work a lot with connecting to the National Grid in the UK.
My role is leading the E-mobility business for the UK and Ireland. It's ensuring that all elements of E-mobility are covered in terms of what we can support and control into the market. It starts with the infrastructure; we see feeder pillars and sub-stations connecting anybody to the grid to allocate the power. Then we manage that through to the chargers, the actual charge points of AC and DC power while making sure, depending on market needs, we can strategically open the door for more available charges and power in the future.
Then we follow that through into a services strategy, the day-to-day management and reliability of charging infrastructure as we know that's super critical for any kind of EV and the users. Schneider is end-to-end control for our services and it is 24/7.
Then there is also the evolving the strategy into how we link renewables into EVs. We're looking to microgrids, battery storage capacities, how we can connect the whole end-to-end model together through software.
How can public knowledge and education regarding EVs be tackled?
I think there is a huge gap on public knowledge on EVs. I see a lot of media saying that EVs are unreliable, or EVs can have issues. I think the truth is that EVs are new and that causes uncertainty.
I think there is a huge gap on public knowledge on EVs.
I think we also know human beings don't like change. We all know how to use an ICE vehicle. The question is how we make the change so that people become more EV confident. We're seeing a 50% increase in sales of hybrids at the moment, and that 50% shows people want to make a change, but there's also something that's saying: “I'm not sure I'm ready to go full EV.”
It's a new lifestyle. I switched to EV three years ago, and even then - it was before I worked in EV - and I was contemplating beforehand: can I really do it? I've now got the car, and I have never had an issue. The major public issue still is the perception that there are not enough charge points.
What are some solutions to tackling charging anxiety?
Firstly, we have to dispel some inaccuracies. There is work to do, of course, but there are many more charge points. If you compare last year to now, there's a huge increase on accessible charge points throughout the UK and Ireland; and they are reliable. With rapid DC charging, you're on the road again 20 minutes. I think this is where public perception has to change. Don't stop because you need to charge your car, charge your car when you have stopped.
The other thing is using your home charger and getting the right tariffs at home. I think another thing people are concerned about is that it's so much more expensive to have an EV than an ICE cars. The initial upfront cost is, of course, a lot more expensive than a lot of conventional cars. However, over the lifetime of the car, you’re not paying half as much for fuelling it.
An ICE vehicle works out at about 18 pence a mile. When I'm putting electric into my car now it's about 8 pence a mile, and that's because it utilises AC charging, which is better for the car.
Charging EVs causes a lot of uncertainty for people contemplating the switch.
I think there's more destination charging coming up; if you go to the shops, the gym, go out for a meal, you take your car and you will charge on a cheaper tariff for the time you're there. I think that's a huge mindset shift for people.
We also know that some 40% of homeowners the UK don't have access to a driveway. The next big challenge is that of kerb charging in residential areas. We're seeing more residential streets with charging and we're working on many projects now with the governments and the councils to say: how do we make it accessible for everybody, and these cheaper rates accessible for everybody?
Charging EVs causes a lot of uncertainty for people contemplating the switch.
The challenge has to start now. The power infrastructure itself is not the issue, the grid can cope. But how do we make sure that chargers are more accessible?
How can we make EVs and charging more accessible?
One huge element is the affordability of an EV vehicle. The second-hand market is starting to appear, and you're seeing a big drop in the price points for those vehicles. We know as soon as you drive a new car off the forecourt, depreciation starts; it’s the same with EVs. More are coming onto the used market at more affordable prices.
Over the last few years, we've got about 80 different EV models in the UK. Every car dealership has an EV option. Batteries are becoming cheaper to manufacture. We're going to see that that shifting in the price point of EVs and that will make the basic product accessible for more people.
Two years ago, there was no EV that was below GBP40,000 to purchase. That's a massive jump from where the ICE average is. Second hand electric cars coming through is going to make a huge difference.
The other way of looking at it is actually being able to charge your car easily and cheaply. There are new initiatives and new technology evolving now that allows that capability. You can reduce your tariff for overnight charging. Using an off-peak tariff is a great way to save a lot of money and make EV accessible at home.
Residential streets – such as terraced housing in the UK – pose new questions when it comes to parking space and allocating chargers. How do you allow someone that space? How do you reserve that space? How can people turn up, park, charge on an AC charge that maintains a battery life of the car at a cheaper rate? There are more projects coming, more battery storage allocations happening as well. I think within the next two years there'll be a lot of new access happening.
What role do you think OEMs and others have to play?
Everybody who can have a positive influence should. OEMs have a huge responsibility to make sure the knowledge is being passed on. I think we need to do a lot more voice of customers to really understand what the concerns and solutions are going to be.
OEMs have a huge responsibility to make sure they are getting the right products out there as well making them affordable, and adapting manufacturing and supply chains to allow for that.
OEMs have a huge responsibility to make sure they are getting the right products out there
The other thing that I think is the Government and media having facts and talking to the right people. Innovate UK is starting to create a good platform for better communication and Octopus Energy just started the electric vehicle UK organisation with loads of different people involved. It's starting to change.
There's a lot of responsibility sitting on businesses like Schneider Electric, for me and for our team to say: “This is the reality, and this is how it's going to change.” Positive press is a fundamental way of changing it. OEMs must ensure sustainable manufacturing and also economic sustainability.
We also need to stick to one Government target on ICE phase-out. In the UK it was 2030 then 2035 and we're seeing it come back to 2030. It may sound great for the environment, but we need stability and certainty to guide decision making for consumers. Is an EV switch imminent or can it be put-off if the ban on sales of ICEs is ten years away? Should I get another ICE vehicle, or should I go to a hybrid? Some people are perhaps thinking, am I even moving to an EV? From those sorts of questions and a position of uncertainty or misperceptions on such a major household purchase, then the worry begins.
"Schneider Electric and the challenge to make EV chargers more accessible" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.
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