Electric vehicle technologies continue to advance, and more manufacturers are announcing the imminent arrival of new all-electric models. As the clamour for an all-EV future increases, Matthew Beecham catches up with Dr Colin Herron, managing director at Zero Carbon Futures, to find out if the infrastructure is in place to promote the widespread use of EVs, and if the consumer is ready to step away from the petrol pump.
Last time we spoke in June 2013, you were telling us about a number of interesting projects; how have these progressed?
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Zero Carbon Futures is dedicated to driving the advancement of low carbon vehicle technology and training, and in the past few months we have seen much to suggest that the UK’s EV infrastructure is pioneering in its support for this evolving market.
The North East’s Charge Your Car project, funded through Plugged In Places, that we mentioned last time has helped the region’s charge point coverage grow to 1,162 points, including standard, quick-charge and domestic units, which helps boost the confidence of North East EV drivers in the charging infrastructure. A spine of quick-charge points now runs from Scotland to Yorkshire, which makes longer distance EV travel a reality, and it is crucial for the rest of the UK to follow suit and become a fully-connected network. Our project has investigated different types of charging and infrastructure, set common industry standards and helped change the public’s perception of how EVs can be successfully used in domestic and commercial environments, but it is vital for the country to view the North East as a working demonstrator of EV connectivity and to continue developing the technologies further.
So you have noticed a change in the public’s perception of EVs?
Undoubtedly. It has taken a lot of hard work and will continue to do so, but with the continued development of technologies and introduction of incentives and pilot schemes, we can continue to prove the viability of EVs to a nation which is gradually becoming less sceptical. The Switch EV demonstrator trial, for instance, showed that, for 90 percent of the time, EV drivers in the North East were no more than 5km away from a charge point and that 93 percent of participants’ journeys were less than 40km. This reassurance over the usability of EVs is having a noticeable impact on vehicle sales: the North East, which has arguably the strongest infrastructure in place of anywhere in the UK, currently has more EVs per head than any area. It demonstrates the success of a ‘build it and they will come’ attitude, with some thoughtful direction, public reassurance and allowing the technology to speak for itself.
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By GlobalDataSo, nationally, would you say the North East is leading the way in terms of EV take-up?
Not only does EV take-up in the region far exceed the national average, but comprehensive usage data shows that these vehicles are actually getting used on a frequent basis. For instance, public charge points in the North East have been used 26,315 times, delivering 178,000kwh of electricity and reducing EV drivers’ fuel bills by £88,819 over a total of 745,133 miles. This equates to a saving of over 144 million grams of CO2, and helps the region set a precedent for EV usage in the UK.
We are also a partner in the national My Electric Avenue project, which is placing EVs with individuals to assess the long term impact this will have on the National Grid. As the majority of UK households grow to rely on EVs, it is important to investigate the potential for integrating usage with the home; how to make the domestic environment and vehicle work together. Battery second-life projects and vehicle-to-home technologies are continually evolving solutions to the problem, which can be investigated and employed at the Future Technology Centre.
What can you tell us about the Future Technology Centre; is it open for business yet?
Not yet, but it’s an exciting project that is unique in Europe. It is currently in development at the centre of the North East’s automotive district, and is owned and managed by a partnership of Zero Carbon Futures and Gateshead College. It will be a real demonstrator of e-mobility technologies, providing a research and development centre, testing laboratory and proximity to the UK’s only dedicated EV performance track. The Centre is designed to promote knowledge transfer and project collaboration in the evolution of low-carbon vehicle technologies, and will help lay the foundations for the UK to fortify its position as a European leader in the development and implementation of these technologies.
The centre will open in early 2014 and will be home to academic research, automotive supply chain operations, skills and training provision to act as a springboard to real-world adoption of new and emerging low carbon technologies. The facilities and on-site expertise will open up the possibility for exploring a real diversity of research areas, such as propulsion techniques, including induction charging and hydrogen, and smart home technologies.
At the centre of a crucial automotive district and as the heart of an emerging EV infrastructure, the Future Technology Centre can provide real breakthroughs and world-leading research into the low carbon vehicle technologies of the future.
And, in your opinion, is central government still doing all it can to make the UK a leader in EV adoption and technology development?
The remainder of this interview is available on just-auto’s QUBE research service
