The Electric Vehicle Energy Taskforce has issued its proposals for enabling the transition to e-mobility, including making smart charging a default and opening up flexibility services to EVs.
The government-backed taskforce, which was set up in 2018, has revealed its 21 proposals for the government and industry on how to enable an effective and efficient electric mobility transition.
The proposals are split into five themes: interoperability, smart charging, data, winning consumer’s trust and confidence and developing and maintaining the infrastructure consumers need.
“As a matter of urgency” government and Ofgem need to facilitate effective forward planning and coordination of the rollout of EV and electricity network infrastructure at a local and national level, which should be implemented and used through the RIIO-2 price control.
The price control should support “well-justified” anticipatory network investment.
In terms of interoperability, the industry must reach convergence on a preferred set of standards across EV charging infrastructure, the report said. If this is not achieved, the government must intervene.
Industry should also enable roaming services by 2021, and network and system operators must work with Ofgem, industry and consumer representatives to develop governance arrangements for the use of emergency charge limitations by network companies.
The government and Ofgem should also ensure overall operational cooperation of industry parties seeking to exploit EV flexibility through smart charging technologies and electricity market products by 2021, the taskforce proposed, ensuring smart charging doesn’t present a risk to grid stability.
Smart charging should also be made the default with an opt-out function by 2021.
In addition, the government and Ofgem must ensure that existing markets for flexibility are made accessible for EV users, the taskforce said. They should support the development of new coordinated and accessible markets for flexibility to compete with traditional networks and wider whole system solutions by 2023.
Proposals for data include:
- Industry players should cooperate to develop comprehensive data sharing arrangements and open and interoperable exchange principles and mechanisms, in line with the implementation of recommendations made by the Energy Data Taskforce.
- Public charge point owners, operators and market actors must make data on location, type, status, capacity, price and availability consistent and openly available to EV drivers by 2021.
- A Data Access and Privacy Framework for the EV sector should be introduced by government and Ofgem by 2021.
George Freeman, minister for the future of transport, said the government commissioned the taskforce to advise on how it could best work with industry to make sure the energy system is ready for the transition to electric vehicles.