The rise of the electric car and growth of EV charging
Easy to access, plentiful and well maintained EV chargepoints are essential now the Government has announced an end to the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. Electrical Contractors are ideally placed to take advantage of the new business opportunities that are opening up in this sector.
The Electric Vehicle Market in the UK
Sales of electric cars is at an all-time high. Over 144,000 pure electric or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) electric cars were registered in the 11 months up to Nov 2020 - an increase of over 150% compared with last year.
Through government and private investment there are currently over 19,700 charging devices but the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) suggest the UK will need to build over 1.9m public charging points by 2030 to completely satisfy demand.
Charger Types and Speed of Charge
- Slow (3.5kW): Suitable for overnight charging of 11 - 13 hours
- Fast (7-22kW single or three-phase 32A): Fully recharge some vehicles in about 5 hours
- Rapid DC (50kW+) or Rapid AC (43kW): Charge up to 80% full in 25–60 minutes, depending on the EV and its battery capacity. Charging via CCS or CHAdeMO connectors.
- Ultra-Rapid DC (100+): The Government is investing £1.3bn in car charging and has announced a Rapid Charging Fund which aims to have at least 6 high powered open access chargepoints (150-350kW) at motorway service stations by 2023.
To calculate how long a specific make and model will charge from flat:
Take the battery size and divide it by the charging speed to give the number of hours it will take
i.e. 62kW battery ÷ 7kW = 9 hours.
Opportunities for Electrical Contractors
The new business prospects in the EV charging market are huge for electrical contractors. With every new EV registration, the demand for charge points intensifies, in homes, streets, workplaces and motorways. The NICEIC EV Training Courses run accredited EV training courses as well as City & Guilds – 2919 Level 3, to enable you to take advantage of the opportunities available.
Government Financial Support Schemes
To be involved in the Homecharge Scheme and Workplace Scheme, installers must be authorised by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) to work and claim grants on customers behalf.
EV Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) As from April 2020 a grant is available funding up to 75% towards the cost of installing a domestic EV chargepoint, up to a maximum of £350 (inclusive of VAT)
Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme providing up to 75% financial support towards up-front costs of purchase and installation of EV chargepoints for businesses, charities and public sector organisations. As from April 2020 the number of sockets that can be installed under this scheme has increased from 20 to 40 across all sites per company.
EV Manufacturer Approved Installer
You must be approved by the manufacturer(s) of the chargepoints you are installing. Both Rolec and Schneider have accreditation schemes available and you can visit their websites for more information.
Become an OLEV Accredited Installer
The following information is required for completing the online OZEV form:
- Proof of membership of the Electrician Associations (e.g. NICEIC/NAPIT/ECA/Select) and your details will need to be visible on the relevant website.
- Proof of your public liability insurance - not employers’ liability insurance
- Proof your company's installers have been trained to install electric vehicle chargepoints, names of installers, their qualifications and renewal dates
- Proof you are approved by the chargepoint manufacturer/s to install their products.
Ensure all evidence provided is up to date and lists your current address.
With SMMT predicting 1 in 10 cars on the road will be EV by 2022, this is the ideal time to invest in training and get OLEV approved with your manufacturer(s) of choice.
For more information, ask your local BEW branch for contact details of their local Rolec or Schneider representative.
Sources:
Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV)
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)
Zap-MAP
Drive Electric
