NewMotion has published a new report examining the current electric vehicle (EV) landscape and identifying the key features of the future.
The report touched upon a number of technologies and use cases, such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G), smart charging and different charging speeds, and was formed through interviews with industry leaders.
When looking at public charging, NewMotion described roaming interoperability as the “backbone” of European charging networks, with the company itself collaborating with over 200 roaming partners.
In the UK specifically, it has signed roaming agreements with the likes of ChargePoint and Vattenfall, as well as Allego, EVBox and a number of others.
NewMotion said that interoperability is an “essential element in accelerating EV adoption” as it makes e-mobility both more accessible and attractive.
However, it pointed to the need for better integration of EV apps with the EVs themselves, which it said would improve the overall experience, as well as the need for better price transparency. This could be achieved through open protocols and access to real-time charging data, it said.
Despite the praise for public networks and interoperability, it said that according to its respondents homes will still be the most important charging location for the immediate future.
NewMotion outlined how EVs also have the potential to function as an emergency back-up power supply for homes, as well as the benefits of having an EV alongside solar PV due to the potential to store the excess solar in the EV.
It said that managing home and EV energy needs is set to become more seamless and accessible. It highlighted the variety of new intelligent remote control panels for home automation and reducing energy consumption now available, although it added that adoption currently varies depending on the individual market.
The report also touched on workplace and fleet charging, stating that many of the industry leaders it spoke to foresaw a need for companies and fleet managers to be able to alternate between different types of charging speeds in workplace or depot charging stations.
It continued to say that while AC charging is “sufficient for the majority of EVs”, having a few DC charge points has the potential to offer maximum flexibility for visitors or high-usage employees.
As more EVs are added to the system alongside more renewables, there will be a greater need for grid balancing, NewMotion went on to say.
It found that whilst V2G technology offers “huge potential”, smart charging can already solve most of the issues relating to grid balancing. In fact, NewMotion said that the industry leaders it spoke to agreed that smart charging solutions will be “key” for distributing electricity over time to reduce the impact on the grid.
It also said that battery storage options could have a role in both business and home charging.
The company pointed to the potential of so-called V1G technology, where the charging speed of chargers is slightly slowed to control the chargepoints in an upward and downward direction, allowing symmetrical grid balancing using a unidirectional charger. It described the potential of this technology as “huge”, citing the “tens of thousands” of suitable NewMotion chargers already in the field.
It recently signed two new deals, one with Aldi for the provision of chargers at its stores and one with Alphabet to provide chargers for its customers. The company also appointed a new CEO, Melanie Lane, in May.
