EVs: how is the UK getting ready for the switch to electric?
As the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently stated, the next few years will prove pivotal in tackling the climate crisis. From the increase in sea levels to extreme events such as hurricanes and intensive heat waves, it is hard to deny the scale and immediacy of this climate emergency.
The UK has committed to Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050. Transport is currently the most polluting sector in the UK, responsible for 27% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions; within this, cars are responsible for 55% of transport emissions.
Electric vehicles (EVs) can play a vital role in supporting the country’s efforts to reduce emissions and fight climate change. The UK has set a new goal of banning conventional fossil fuel vehicle sales by 2030 and only allowing zero-emission vehicles from 2035.
This transition to EVs could bring significant benefits for the energy system, enabling the decarbonisation of the transport sector and improving air quality in towns and cities.
The current growth of EVs in the UK and excellent attendance at Fully Charged OUTSIDE 2021
In 2020, more than twice the amount of people in the UK (181,090) registered an electric vehicle compared to 2019 (80,578). These figures show that the uptake of electric cars increased by 125% by the end of 2020, a trend which is continuing in 2021 with EV registrations more than doubling YoY in a market only 20% up from 2020.
This shift in consumer behaviour was well represented at this year’s Fully Charged OUTSIDE, the world’s largest EV and renewable energy event that took place a few days ago at Farnborough International, bringing together the latest products, services and industry experts. Moixa participated as an exhibitor alongside several cutting-edge industries offering new green technologies, and our team was thrilled to see so many people engaged in the latest in electric vehicles and clean energy.
Our EV Associate Director Ben Fletcher loved seeing the commitment people make to our shared ambition to reach net zero. He was impressed with how engaged the Fully Charged OUTSIDE’s audience were, and he was keen to help them understand the ever changing pathway to zero carbon living.
The challenges
Although the EV market is booming, research shows that there is still resistance that could stop people from switching to electric vehicles. Common concerns among drivers are the cost of electric cars, the reliability of charge points, and the difficulties in comparing prices and paying for charging.
These concerns might risk reducing people’s confidence and trust in EVs. The government has claimed that they are committed to using a wide range of policy levers to increase awareness and boost confidence in zero-emission vehicles to incentivise their uptake.
The latest Government 2035 EV Delivery Plan
The latest Government 2035 EV Delivery Plan was published last July, and our EV Associate Director Ben Fletcher has shared his thoughts on it:
“This report and roadmap of actions, giving more clarity on Government plans, is very welcome. To support these ambitions, it is crucial that customers find it easy and rewarding to access the greenest and lowest cost energy when charging their vehicles and powering their homes.
However, most EV drivers currently wishing to make the most of flexible market tariffs have to monitor prices themselves and set charge schedules accordingly. This complexity can prevent many from making even greater savings in both money and carbon terms.
As the energy market adapts to new agile tariffs, smart energy management at home needs to become commonplace. Smart battery hardware and GridShare software like Moixa’s can aid in delivering solutions, which put drivers at the centre of the charging experience.”
e:PROGRESS – our partnership with Honda for an intelligent EV charging process
Since 2019, Moixa has partnered with Honda to launch e:PROGRESS, an intelligent home EV charging offer for Honda e customers in the UK, offering real value to EV owners with a cheaper and cleaner charging solution.
Traditionally, EV drivers who wished to make the most of flexible tariffs on the market had to monitor prices themselves and set charge schedules accordingly.
By using Moixa’s GridShare technology, e:PROGRESS enables customers to benefit from the most cost-effective electricity prices whilst also optimising the use of electricity from renewable sources by integrating with the Agile Octopus 100% renewable tariff from Octopus Energy.
Moixa’s GridShare software autonomously selects the most cost-effective times to charge the vehicle based on dynamic price changes of the Agile tariff while ensuring that the Honda e is always adequately charged when needed.
By simplifying the charging process, Moixa is committed to further encouraging EV adoption and accelerating the transition to net-zero carbon emissions.
If you would like to learn more about how our GridShare Software can be used to add intelligence to EV charging and energy storage, please contact our business services team.