Tomorrow, 9th September 2023 and in its fourth year of running, World EV Day™ stands as a crucial global event that underscores the pivotal role of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in combating climate change. This annual celebration brings together a diverse spectrum of participants, including companies, individuals, policymakers, and thought leaders, to collectively champion the cause of electrified mobility on a global scale.
Image by Nerijus jakimavičius from Pixabay
World EV Day™ has garnered significant recognition and support from the international political arena, evidencing its impact in the fight against climate change. It has been a topic of discussion in the UK parliament, received acknowledgment from top climate advisors at the White House, and made a splash on social media with over 300 million Twitter impressions in 2022. Notably, renowned companies such as Ford, NIO, ABB, Parker Lord, Leaseplan, and many others have enthusiastically joined hands to celebrate the advancements in emobility during this event.
However, it’s essential to acknowledge that World EV Day™ represents more than just a single day of festivities. It symbolises an ongoing journey towards a sustainable and decarbonised society. This year, the event organisers are once again urging businesses, policymakers, and individuals worldwide to reflect on how they can contribute to #DriveChange. This call to action emphasises the need for continued commitment and concerted efforts to accelerate the transition to clean and electric transportation systems, thus playing a vital role in mitigating the impacts of climate change.
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: “World EV day reflects the continued commitment to EV adoption from businesses, the government, and individuals. However, increasing numbers of electric vehicles on the road means the demand for reliable charge points will also increase. With these rollouts, charge point operators and the government must ensure they are not sacrificing quality for quantity, as this will only damage consumer confidence and stunt EV public-adoption. All charge points will require resilient and highly secure two-way connectivity.
“As the EV rollout continues to grow and take shape, it will ultimately represent a critical national infrastructure (CNI) relied upon by the public and everyday businesses. Therefore, secure connectivity cannot be overlooked. Establishing a ‘secure-by-design’ policy measure will be vital. Operators will need to secure these assets and public data 24/7. It isn’t enough to simply install thousands of charge points, consumers expect their data to be kept confidential through secure private networking, and operators must make it a top priority to defend infrastructure from cyber-attacks, and counter any anomalies to ensure reliable connectivity at all times.
“Massive EV adoption also presents a significant load-balancing challenge for energy service providers. As charge points are rolled out it becomes harder and harder to track whether devices are a load or a source of power on the network. Managing fluctuations and preventing power surges will only get more difficult increasing the risk of possible power outages. Service providers need to be able to monitor operational performance and control remote assets to schedule charging cycles or determine when EVs are charging or discharging to help address the imbalance in the grid.”
New research from Turo, the world’s largest car sharing marketplace, found that the top three barriers preventing car owners from switching to EVs are concerns about initial purchasing costs (87%), battery life (88%) and the lack of public charging (87%).
Derek Hemphill, Glasgow, host on Turo, said: “Over the last year, I’ve more than doubled the number of cars on my Turo page and I now have six vehicles available on the app. I’m strongly considering adding an EV in the near future, but before I do, Scotland will need to boost its EV infrastructure. Many of my guests head to The Highlands and need access to charging points on the way. The EV market is still just getting going, and there is a lot of change that needs to be made before they become mainstream. From a driver’s perspective, Turo is a great way ‘to try before you buy’ and really open your eyes to the world of electric cars, from how to use chargers to understanding the range.”
