Written by Duncan Nicol, Market Segment Manager- Device Connections.
Meeting the challenges of building a safe and capable charging infrastructure.
The fallout from the “Diesel Gate” emissions scandal is really starting to take hold with most of the major automotive manufacturers announcing ambitious electric vehicle programs and governments plotting the inevitable death of the internal combustion engine.
With the success of pure electrics like the Nissan Leaf, Tesla’s Model S and the recent production launch of the more affordable Tesla Model 3. The popularity of electric vehicles (EV) is no longer a niche market for the wealthy, but becoming a mainstream mode of personal transport. Increased media coverage together with YouTube channels such as Fully Charged and the EV Experience Centre recently opened in Milton Keynes are all helping consumers to become better informed about the realities of EV ownership.
Range anxiety has always been one of the primary concerns of consumers when thinking about EV adoption. But with the ever improving battery technology, more affordable subsidised home charging options and an expanding public charging infrastructure, range is much less of an issue for most consumers. Especially when you consider that most people’s daily commute is just a few miles each way which can be completed with most electric vehicles available on the market today on an overnight charge. Of course there are now a good number of EV models available with hybrid versions offering greater range with the combination of batteries and a combustion engine. Pure EVs are however rapidly improving and today some are achieving acceptable ranges in excess of 300 miles on a single charge.
The challenges in this emerging market are not limited to the on-board vehicle technology. The standards and regulations surrounding the charging infrastructure are moving targets with the regulatory bodies trying to keep up with the evolving technology. In terms of plug-in compatibility, type 2 is now accepted as the standard for Europe, with Type 1 for the US and GB for China (see previous blog). But the real confusion is over the communication needs and the safety requirements of the charging infrastructure.
The rise of the smart grid and the resulting need to balance demand and supply at the local level is creating complexity for charging infrastructure providers due to the need to measure and manage demand from the grid. With regard to safety, historically our electricity supply is designed around AC distribution, but all of a sudden EVs are introducing the need for DC supplies which are inherently more dangerous and introduce new risks from DC leakage currents to which the existing electricity supply is not designed to manage.
At Phoenix Contact we are working with both the vehicle manufactures and the charging infrastructure providers to provide solutions at both ends of the charging cable. For more information or to arrange a meeting to discuss your EV project, please contact Duncan on 07799 072059 or email dnicol@phoenixcontact.com
