Monthly Archives: May 2020

Drive Energi 50kW Tritium Veefil-RT chargers (Image: Drive Energi)

SSEN to trial portable EV chargers in £320,000 LEVEL project

Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is looking at portable electric vehicle (EV) chargers in a new project.

The £320,000 Local Electric Vehicle Energy Loop (LEVEL) project, which has secured funding from Ofgem’s Network Innovation Allowance (NIA), is to scope out the design and capabilities of portable EV charging devices.

The project is to last 18 months, starting this month, with the aim of identifying ways to improve network and charging resilience to meet short term demand.

Drive Energi 50kW Tritium Veefil-RT chargers (Image: Drive Energi)
Rapid charge points (Image: Drive Energi)

Future applications of the technology include deployment in advance of bad weather, such as in remote locations across Scotland that experience power cuts as a result of adverse weather.

LEVEL will also investigate the feasibility of positioning charging devices in public car parks during the summer months, boosting local capacity.

The project will develop the standard and specification of the temporary chargers and will include a demonstration of a device in SSEN’s licence area in the north of Scotland.

It will consider the customer interface, such as the development of an app to display the charger locations, as well as what the best ownership model for the devices would be, which SSEN said may be public bodies.

The role of the chargers in vulnerable communities and the implications for metering and settlement from temporary connections will also be considered.

“A portable charging device could be a valuable tool to help us manage short-term and short-notice surges in demand, whilst avoiding costly network reinforcement,” said Kate Jones, project manager for LEVEL at SSEN.

Read more: Current News

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Number of hybrid and electric vehicles on UK roads reaches all-time high

Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Sales

Nearly 20 per cent of all new cars that joined UK roads last year were either fully electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles, an all-time record, new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show.

While the number of vehicles on UK roads surpassed 40 million for the first time, CO2 emissions fell to the lowest on record.

The UK now has more than three quarters of a million low, ultra-low and zero-emission cars, although this makes up only around 2 per cent of all vehicles.

The number of these cars grew by 26 per cent last year, with 532,603 hybrids, 144,335 plug-in hybrids and 92,913 battery electric vehicles now in use.

Meanwhile the number of diesel cars in use fell marginally by -0.9 per cent to 13,723,299, accounting for 39 per cent of the parc, while petrol cars grew by 1.2 per cent to 20,657,838.

Diesel vehicles have seen declining sales ever since VW was caught using emissions-cheating software in its vehicles, coupled with rising concerns about their impact on air pollution.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said the figures highlight the “essential role” the UK’s vehicle fleet plays in keeping vital goods and workers moving during the coronavirus pandemic.

It also illustrates that investment in cleaner, safer and more reliable vehicle technology is paying off as “demand for mobility grows”, he claimed.

“To ensure this trend continues, we must get the right support for businesses and their workers in place now so that when this crisis is over, the sector can help get the whole country and our economy back on the move,” he added.

Read more: IET

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Nissan Leaf 3.Zero e+ (Image: Nissan)

The car firm will loan 100 free cars to NHS workers working on the frontline to battle coronavirus

Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan

Nissan has announced it will provide 100 free cars to NHS workers in need of mobility during the coronavirus pandemic.

The vehicles allocated for the initiative include the Micra, Juke, Qashqai and all-electric Leaf.

Nissan Leaf 3.Zero e+ (Image: Nissan)
Nissan Leaf 3.Zero e+ (Image: Nissan)

The initiative has been coordinated by Nissan GB to support frontline NHS workers, with more than 30 dealer sites taking part.

Originally shared by a member of deals site hotukdeals.com, the offer is ideal for NHS frontline workers who are avoiding public transport during the crisis. It will also help them get to the supermarket if they live far from their nearest store.

Each of the vehicles will be provided free of charge and include complimentary insurance and roadside assistance. The recipient only needs to cover the cost of fuel or charging.

For insurance cover, the NHS worker needs to be over 25 with less than six points on their license.

Those who are offered a Nissan Leaf will be given free access to a charging facility.

Read more: Mirror

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