BEAMA takes a close look at developing a strong consumer offer and the key issues in the EV market today.
On 2 May 2012, BEAMA hosted its second annual Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Conference on ‘Smart Charging Networks for Electric Vehicles’. Sixty delegates from infrastructure, meter and vehicle manufacturers; energy retailers; network operators and government discussed emerging issues in the EV industry and highlighted priority areas of action for the market to encourage the mass adoption of EVs.
The event covered in-depth discussion on the availability of industry and consumer guidance, the requirements for back office services to support charging networks, and the longer-term interoperability of EV infrastructure with other mandated ‘smart’ technologies.
BEAMA Guide to Electric Vehicle Infrastructure launched
BEAMA launched its Guide to Electric Vehicle Infrastructure at the Conference. The Guide outlines best practice use and application of electrical infrastructure for EV charging. With over 3,000 charging points installed in the UK to date and rapid growth forecast, this Guide, along with the IET Code of Practice, details the range and availability of different charging solutions that are now available.
Yselkla Farmer, coordinator of the BEAMA Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project said: “The Conference made it clear that there is still a need for improved co-ordination in the industry to avoid further market fragmentation and improve the network connections between public infrastructure. The industry is moving at a very fast pace so we need to ensure that what is installed today provides a commercially viable business model for the long-term. Encouraging service providers to include EV charging in a range of packages could help to provide the critical mass of consumers for EV infrastructure, and therefore its long-term maintenance and availability for use.”
Strong consumer offer
She continued: “Short-term priorities need to focus on creating a strong consumer offer and improving the consumer awareness of progress that has been made, and the technology that is available. This would motivate EV update and encourage the mass adoption of EVs. Industry and government will also need to focus attention on ensuring the interoperability of EV infrastructure for other mandated ‘smart’ technologies. The forthcoming smart meter roll-out and advances in the development of a smarter electricity grid present a great opportunity for EVs in the UK. However, the decision made on the specifications for these systems will influence the ability of the network to interoperate.”
Cutting consumer energy consumption
BEAMA is already heavily involved in Smart Metering and Smart Grid development for UK manufacturers and will be working on ensuring these systems will effectively work together, for the benefit of the Smart Grid and consumer energy consumption.
