Government pushes for an EV smart charger revolution

Regulations mean that all new electric vehicle (EV) chargers sold to private buyers will have to be smart-charging compatible.

Smart charging capability ensures that EV owners can optimise the times they charge and sell power back to the grid. This has been seen as an essential element of the government’s strategy to decarbonise transport in the UK.

SaveMoneyCutCarbon has been a step ahead, ensuring that its EV charging solutions are all smart and compliant with regulations. Find out more here.

The Electric Vehicle Smart Charging Action Plan is a 52-page document that aims to support the infrastructure and networks for around 10 million EVs on UK roads by 2030.

It sets out the steps that the government and Ofgem will take to deliver energy flexibility from electric vehicle (EV) charging, providing affordable, green power. It aims to make smart charging the affordable, convenient choice for consumers, increasing consumer confidence in smart charging and providing appropriate protections for a positive experience.

EV charging market

The plan also underlines the need for regulations, standards and innovation for safe goods and services, creating the right business environment that gives consumers choice – whilst supporting the EV charging market and UK energy flexibility at the same time.

In addition, the plan also seeks to support an energy system ready for EV smart charging, complete with accessible tariffs and flexibility services along with energy system data and tools to plan, incentivise and manage challenges and risks.

Ministers see the plan as the engine of change to encourage more EV drivers to smart-charge their cars, so that long-duration charging at home and work becomes the norm by 2025.

 

Installing a smart EV charger means that drivers can opt to charge at times when demand for electricity is lower and so energy is cheaper. This takes the pressure off the electricity grid when demand is high, while reducing EV running costs.

V2X technology

The most advanced form of smart charging – ‘vehicle to everything’ or V2X technology—has the added bonus of allowing owners to release energy stored in an EV battery to other devices in the home, or sell it back to the grid at times of high demand. This further reduces bills and system pressures.

Savvy EV owners would be able to maximise their savings by reaping the benefits of electricity generated from rooftop solar panels. The government aims for this to be widespread by 2030.

Drivers should be able to reduce their energy bills by several hundred pounds a year, and those covering thousands of miles annually could save up to £1,000 a year by optimising charge times, avoiding peak-demand periods such as 4-9 pm on winter evenings.

Smart charging delivers more benefits through carbon emissions reductions and greater energy security, with less need to bring old fossil fuel power plants back online during periods of lower renewables output.

It also has ripple effects for all consumers, not just EV drivers, as lower electricity system costs will help to reduce prices for everyone.

The government pledges to:

• Improve publicly available information and evidence on smart charging
• Support the implementation of robust customer service standards
• Ensure private charge points are secure and compatible with the latest energy innovations.

EV energy innovations

The government has stated that it “will improve publicly available information and evidence on smart charging, support the implementation of robust consumer service standards and ensure private charge points are secure and compatible with the latest energy innovations.”

It’s backed that up with £16m from the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio for smart charging technologies, including a street lamppost to enable motorists to access smart charging on the move and a tool to optimise EV battery life and financial returns.

And there’s more good news this week around the EV charging revolution. The Department of Transport has just announced that thousands of new EV charge points are to be installed across England.

 

The latest phase of the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme will see 2400 new charging facilities in 16 councils, funded with £56m public and industry investment.

The councils are:

• Buckinghamshire
• Cumbria
• Hackney
• Harborough
• Hounslow
• Lancashire
• Norfolk
• Oxfordshire
• Rotherham
• Sunderland
• Waltham Forest
• Warwickshire
• West Midlands
• West Sussex
• West Yorkshire
• York.

If you’re looking for a smart EV charging solution, our wide selection of market-leading charge points, cables and accessories have been sourced by our product specialists, who use their sector knowledge to find the best products with proven reliability and excellent value.

As an OZEV approved installer, SaveMoneyCutCarbon can work on domestic and commercial grant funded projects. We can also offer and specify Destination Charging Solutions that enable our customers to offer charging as a revenue-generating service. Call our EV charging team on 0333 123 5464. Find out more.

We can also supply a wide range of EV cables in yellow, black, blue and green with lengths ranging from 2m to 50m. Want to check which cable is best for your EV? We make it easy – find it here.