GOV UK ANNOUNCES NEW MEASURES TO SUPPORT EV ROLLOUT – WIRELESS LOGIC COMMENTS
Posted by: electime 13th February 2024
Yesterday, the UK government announced new measures to support electric vehicle drivers as part of its broader Plan for Drivers policy, including grants for schools and new proposals to boost charge point numbers. However, the House of Lords has argued that more investment is needed if the EV rollout is to be taken seriously. The report claims that people need to be encouraged to switch to electric vehicles, from targeted subsidies to speeding up new charging infrastructure. This follows a recent enquiry into Britain’s electric vehicle transition strategy.
Justin Godfrey-Cass, Head of Transport Solutions at Wireless Logic, comments on the challenges of charge point rollouts, and the need for reliable, secure connectivity:
“Despite the government’s efforts, the electric vehicle (EV) rollout has been hampered by planning constraints, cost of installation, need for access, and the need for resilient and highly secure two-way connectivity in locations where wired infrastructure isn’t always readily available. The whole process can take weeks, making it hard for councils to keep up with the demand of EV sales. If the government wants to make it EVs a viable option for consumers, the importance of secure, always-on internet of things (IoT) connectivity cannot be overlooked.
“First and foremost, new charging points must meet the needs of the consumer. Drivers expect a charge point to be fully operational at all times, keep their data secure and bill them correctly. Charge points need to be more widespread, available, accessible and well-maintained. As the number of EVs increases, it will present a load-balancing challenge for energy service providers. All charge points will need to be connected and monitored so operators can gather data on when vehicles are charging to predict peak periods and schedule charging cycles to avoid power fluctuations, surges and outages.
“As the EV charge point rollout begins to take form, they will ultimately represent critical national infrastructure to the public and businesses, so the importance of having secure connectivity cannot be overlooked. By deploying a highly resilient and secure charging solution, CPOs can provide a much more seamless and trusted charging experience for the customer; everything from booking a charging time to providing WiFi hotspots and digital signage whilst you wait. The government and construction companies must make this top-priority.”
