An ever-increasing number of electric vehicles (EVs) on our roads today has increased the need for charging in the UK. This is true for van fleets and higher-mileage drivers as well as privately-owned vehicles, explains Joe Ellwood, EV charger product specialist at ABB.
An ever-increasing number of electric vehicles (EVs) on our roads today has increased the need for charging in the UK. This is true for van fleets and higher-mileage drivers as well as privately-owned vehicles.
One third of homes don’t have access to off-street parking for charging EVs at home, so more drivers will rely on charge stations at forecourts. Since multiple drivers will share these chargers daily, it makes sense to introduce a rapid charging solution to serve customers faster and attract more drivers.
Growing charging infrastructure
High-mileage EV drivers want to get back on the road as quickly as possible. To help them, forecourts can install rapid, or ultra-rapid chargers. These chargers have power ratings of 50kW to 350kW, providing a range of between 50 and 370 miles with a 20-minute charge.
While charging still takes longer than traditional fuelling, many drivers plan to take breaks after refuelling anyway, so it has little impact on long journeys. With an EV, they can also leave the car while charging, making the most of their break. We are starting to see more and more installations of 350+ kW chargers, capable of adding 60 miles of range in only a few minutes.
Since transitioning to an electric fleet makes good financial and environmental sense, high-mileage delivery and logistics fleets are increasingly converting to electric. However, to optimise time on the road for vans and drivers, local forecourts need to roll out more ultra-rapid charging stations. Fortunately, the Government offers a range of initiatives and grant schemes to support businesses and local authorities installing new EV chargers at their forecourts.
High-power chargers are significantly faster than domestic chargers. However, since they use a lot of power from the grid, they often require an upgraded grid connection. This poses a challenge for forecourts, so needs to be factored into any plans for future development.
UK dealership boasts the world’s fastest EV charger
One of the first forecourts in the UK to benefit from an ultra-rapid charging solution is Soper of Lincoln BMW dealership. It recently installed two Terra 360 units, the world’s fastest EV charger - capable of delivering a full charge in under 15 minutes. The two new units can add 62 miles of range in less than three minutes to set customers on their way sooner.
One of the Terra 360 units is on the dealership forecourt, while the other is dedicated to the 15-bay service workshop. The dealership upgraded its grid connection to accommodate the new chargers as they each require 560 amps to operate at full power.
Ultra-rapid EV chargers are getting more powerful, user-friendly, and quieter. They’re also capable of ‘power-sharing’, meaning that two or more vehicles can charge simultaneously using a combined charging system (CCS) connection.
For instance, one of the cabinets at the BMW dealership can charge one vehicle at 360 kW or two at up to 180 kW. Splitting its charge to multiple vehicles helps to maximise the return on investment for the forecourt since one unit can serve multiple customers at a time. Future versions of the Terra 360 will be able to supply 90 kW of power to four drivers at the same time.
Another benefit of modern EV chargers is their smart software. Remote monitoring capabilities now enable operators to diagnose and resolve most issues from their control centre, minimising the cost of maintenance.
For BMW Soper of Lincoln, the two ultra-rapid EV chargers support current and future generations of electric BMWs. This will future-proof the dealership, helping build loyalty with existing customers and upcoming generations.
Soper’s approach ties in with a recent survey by ABB for World EV Day 2022, which found that younger people in the UK are more likely than the global average to purchase an electric vehicle when they are old enough. The Soper project also acts as a pilot for other installations of the Terra 360 ultra-rapid charger in the UK, with many more forecourts now following suit.
Thinking ahead
High-power chargers are critical to support the increased take-up of EVs – not only for privately-owned vehicles, but also van fleets and other high-mileage drivers.
The UK needs ten times as many EV charge-points by 2030, according to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). But it’s not all about numbers. It’s the power and speed of charge that determines the chargers’ ability to serve the demands of future drivers, providing long-term benefits.
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