In the run-up to Evex, the electric vehicle charging conference co-located with Traffex, Highways speaks to Liz Garlinge, strategic customer projects director at National Highways.
Ms Garlinge is speaking at Evex on The Challenges and Opportunities for Electrification of the Strategic Road Network. In this Q&A, she gives a flavour of the debate.
What are the main challenges for the roll-out of electric charging on the strategic road network (SRN)?
In short, it’s getting power to the right places as quickly as it’s needed. The switch away from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles means some big changes across the transport, energy and even digital sectors, and most of all needs some big power upgrades.
Some Motorway Service Areas will need as much electricity as a small town to power the rapid and ultra-rapid charge points when we have a fully electric fleet.
And that takes time, and investment.
This is a big priority for National Highways and we’re starting to make good progress. I’m hugely encouraged by some of the changes we’ve seen this year, the launch of the pilot for the Rapid Charging Fund, the Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles’ consumer experience regulations, and the new British Standard to ensure chargepoints are accessible as well as some of the reforms in the energy sector (for example the Connections Action Plan) to facilitate this transformation.
How is National Highways tackling them?
We’re part of the solution and net zero carbon travel on our roads by 2050 is one of our three main pledges. I’m hugely proud that we’re working with the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and have launched a pilot for the Rapid Charging Fund.
This pilot aims to provide funding for new and upgraded electrical connections at motorway service areas where the upfront cost would mean they were uneconomic for private sector investment.
We’ve brought together key players (Motorway Service Operators, Distribution Network Operators and others) to look at potential solutions to meet the power demand and we’ve started evaluating bids into the pilot.
It’s been inspiring to see the way people from different sectors have collaborated to solve some tricky issues and focus on getting this important work done.
Elsewhere we’ve done some research on some of the challenges our customers face with charging on the SRN, so we can make sure all journeys are safe and reliable.
How will EVs change the way we drive?
It’s so important to remember why we’re doing this. EVs will mean that every mile we drive will be cleaner, resulting in fewer carbon emissions and fewer pollutants being released into the atmosphere.
For me, it means we are safeguarding our environment for future generations, and lowering emissions that contribute to poor air quality. Improving air quality will have quality of life benefits for people living with health conditions like asthma and COPD, so switching to driving an EV is a hugely positive step.
In the short term, it might mean we need to do a bit more journey planning – having a think about what the battery range on your car is, and working out where the best place to charge is, whether that be at home, at your destination or at a motorway service area.
I’m hoping that before too long vehicle manufacturers will come up with in-car solutions to help us with this planning – I’ve been in a few cars where this is already installed, and it makes a huge difference.
This sort of thinking is an adjustment for some people at first, but when I speak to drivers of EVs it’s amazing that the vast majority wouldn’t want to swap back!
Queues for EV charging: what is the solution? Do we need to book space and fine space hoggers?
I’ve been really interested to see how solutions are already being put in place help with this. At a recent visit I watched about 20 drivers take their place in a virtual line (they didn’t need to queue nearby because their app told them when to approach the charger) and politely and calmly move in and out of charging bays.
This particular charging provider also makes it clear that if you stay on one of these high-use very fast charging bays, they’ll increase the cost of your charge. This certainly incentivises drivers to drive in, get a good charge in 15 to 20 minutes them move on. This is the start of the transformation.
I’m looking forward to seeing new solutions developed that will mean drivers can be more confident they know where to charge, how long it will take and what it will cost. We know these are real concerns that are preventing people from making the switch, but I’m confident that solutions are on their way.
You can find out more about EVEX and register to attend for FREE here.
