By 2030, sales of petrol and diesel-fuelled cars will be banned in the UK, as part of the government’s 10-point plan for a ‘green industrial revolution’.
EV vehicles run either partially or fully using electric power. They have many benefits- low running costs, lower maintenance and are very environmentally friendly as they use little or no carbon emissions (petrol or diesel). Recent years have brought a shift in consumer behaviour in vehicles, with EV sales on the rise.
On the rise
EV is a rapidly growing market, with a reported 215,000 pure-electric cars on the UK’s roads as of March 2021, rising to 455,000 including plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
In January 2021, EV sales rose by more than 50% from the same period the previous year to 6,260. With 40, there were also almost twice as many models on the UK market as at the start of 2020. Together, pure battery and plug-in hybrid models accounted for almost one in seven of all cars sold.
In fact, in 2020 UK car sales were the lowest they had been since 1992, but EV car sales rose 180% year on year and accounted for over 10% of new car sales.
EV Charging
What is EV charging?
EV Charging is how you charge an Electric Vehicle (battery electric vehicle (BEV) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). There are three main types of EV charging: standard, fast and rapid. These represent the power outputs, and therefore charging speeds, available to charge an EV. When referencing power output in EV Chargers please note that power is usually measured in kilowatts (kW).
There are three main types of EV charging – standard, rapid and fast. These represent the power outputs, and therefore charging speeds, available to charge EVs. Power is measured in kilowatts (kW).
Each charger type has an associated set of connectors designed for low- or high-power use, and either AC or DC charging.
Standard chargers
Standard charging is usually carried out between 2.3 kW and 6 kW, though the most common standard chargers are rated at 3.6 kW (16A). Charging times vary depending on the unit and EV being charged, but a full charge on a 3 kW unit typically takes 6-12 hours. Most standard charging units are untethered, meaning a cable is required to connect the EV to the charge point.
Standard charging is a common method of charging electric vehicles, used by many owners to charge at their home overnight.
Fast Chargers
Fast chargers are usually rated at either 7 kW or 22 kW (single- or three-phase 32A). Most fast chargers provide AC charging, although some networks are installing 25 kW DC chargers with CCS or CHAdeMO connectors.
Charging times vary depending on unit speed and vehicle type, but a 7 kW charger will recharge a compatible EV with a 40 kWh battery in 4-6 hours, and a 22 kW charger in 1-2 hours. Fast chargers tend to be found at locations such as car parks, supermarkets, or leisure centres, where vehicles are likely to be parked for an hour or more.
The majority of fast chargers are 7 kW and untethered (meaning users would need their own charger lead), though some home and workplace-based units have cables attached.
Rapid chargers
Rapid chargers are the fastest way to charge an EV, often found at motorway services or locations close to main routes. They supply high-power direct or alternating current – DC or AC – to recharge a car as fast as possible.
Depending on the model, EVs can be recharged to 80% in as little as 20 minutes, though an average new EV would take around an hour on a standard 50 kW rapid charge point.
All rapid devices have charging cables tethered to the unit, and rapid charging can only be used on vehicles with rapid charging capability.
EV Grants- Plug-in Car Grant
The plug-in car grant (PICG) was introduced 10 years ago to stimulate the early market for zero-emission vehicles. Since 2011, the government has provided close to £1.3 billion in plug-in vehicle grant funding, supporting the purchase of more than 285,000 vehicles.
The PICG grant was recently updated to target less expensive models and reflect a greater range of affordable vehicles available, allowing the scheme’s funding to go further and help more people make the switch to an electric vehicle. The government now providing grants of up to £2,500 for electric vehicles on cars priced under £35,000.
OLEV Grant
The Office for Low Emission Vehicles is a cross-government body endorsed by the motor industry. It exists to encourage and support the rapidly growing market in electric and other ultra-low emission vehicles. They have released three different grants to help everyone make the switch from petrol/ diesel to electric.
These are:
– The OLEV Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS)
– The OLEV Workplace Charging Scheme Grant (WCS)
– The OLEV On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS)
In addition to the OLEV (EVHS) grant through the Energy Saving Trust Scotland, the Scottish Government offers Scottish residents an additional grant of up to £300, on top of the EVHS grant.
Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme
The EVHS provides up to £350 off the cost of purchasing and installing a home charging unit. It is available for most EV & PHEVs old and new and you can claim one charge point per vehicle per household, with a maximum of two vehicles per household.
To claim the grant you must:
– Have proof of purchase/ lease
– Have off street parking
– Have an OLEV approved chargepoint
– OLEV approved installer (Like Planet-U Energy)
Workplace Charging Scheme
The WCS is a voucher-based programme that helps eligible business applicants with the costs of buying and installing EV charging points. Each application attracts up to £350 per charging point up to a maximum of 20 (10 double-socket or 20 single-socket charging points) across one or more sites. That means your business could save up to £14,000.
To obtain a voucher, you must complete an online application. However, at Planet-U we can take all of the hassle out of this for you and apply on your behalf. The vouchers are valid for 120 days from the date of issue, so we have plenty of time to find the right installation date to suit your business needs.
Having an EV Charger in place for commercial property or workplace can have a number of benefits.
From a workplace point of view, these include:
– You can save more than £1,000 a year in commercial fleet and employee fuel costs per 10,000 miles
– You can offer free or discounted electric vehicle charging to your employees
– You can reduce employee “benefit in kind” tax for company cars
– A green fleet can help reduce CO2 emissions and reach sustainability goals
From a commercial viewpoint these are:
– Increase footfall to your commercial property by becoming a “charging destination”
– Extra income from the chargers – you can set your own standing rate cost for the charger which means you can have the chargers as an extra revenue stream within your business
– Provides convenience for customers and clients
– Demonstrates environmental commitment which is becoming a high-value asset for many brands when trying to retain or increase customers
Planet-U Energy is here to help you take advantage of the benefits electric vehicle charging can bring. From infrastructure design to charging point installation and maintenance, our experts will help you at every stage.
If you would like to find out more about EV Charging visit https://planetuenergy.com/service/ev-charging/
To learn how Planet-U can help your business’s EV Charging needs please get in touch with Chris at ct@planetuenergy.com | 07508 0543
