Category Archives: Charging

SWARCO eVolt reports record year for its EV charging business

January 24, 2019Charging, Electric Cars, Evolt, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

SWARCO eVolt, the award-winning Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging business, has reported a record year in which it has continued to innovate, deliver the highest levels of customer satisfaction, and increase its market share through the strength and reliability of its technology and engineering teams.

The company, which began installing its first charging points more than eight years ago, has now grown to become one of the largest providers of single, dual and multiple commercial charging points across the UK.

It currently has more than 6,250 of its eVolt-branded charging points installed throughout the country, in addition to a further 343 Rapid Charging stations to meet the needs of an expanding customer base that includes more than 88 Local Authorities and a large number of private businesses. It also launched SWARCO E.Connect, a highly sophisticated EV recharging network for eVolt and third party-manufactured charging stations across the UK and Europe.

It ended 2018 with news of a major new contract to deploy several hundred of its DC Rapid Charging stations for Engenie over the next 12-18 months, as well as being named Charging and Refuelling Infrastructure Provider of the Year at the 2018 Green Fleet Awards.

It has also announced plans to recruit a further nine front-line engineers and call centre staff, a new Head of Sales, Anne Buckingham, the former Head of Electromobility at Siemens, and launch new 100KW and 150KW versions of its proven Raption Rapid Charger.

Justin Meyer, General Manager at SWARCO eVolt, says the key to its success has been the reliability of its products: “In 2018 we recorded a network uptime of 99.38% which is exceptional,” he says, “and of course leads to exceptionally high levels of customer satisfaction. Our investment in EVs for our service engineers also contributes to the highest level of first-time fixes for any issues that do occur.”

Justin believes the company’s growth and increased market share also reflect the growing popularity of EVs, as more local authorities and private businesses look to meet their ‘green’ responsibilities and realise the benefits that EVs can deliver. Fleets of electric buses, taxis and council vehicles are all increasing, leading to an increased demand for charging points, and the opening of the first ever EV Rapid Charging ‘hub’ in Scotland. Two more ‘hubs’ have been installed by SWARCO eVolt since.

“We have an established reputation as the ‘go to’ supplier for commercial EV charging infrastructure solutions, respected for the range and reliability of our systems and a strong support network right across the country,” Justin continues. “But we realise that to stay on top we need to continue to innovate.

“To that end we will be launching a series of new e-mobility products and services in 2019, with a particular focus on further integration with intelligent traffic technologies inherent within the SWARCO Group.”

Source: Gravity London PR

Milton Keynes Mushrooms: A New Generation of Charging Stations

January 14, 2019BMW, BP Chargemaster, Charging, Electric Cars, i3, i3 94Ah, Milton Keynes, News, Reviews and Comment, OpinionTrevor Larkum

Driving from Northampton to Surrey to visit my family over Christmas I was due to go past the new Milton Keynes Charging Hub so took the opportunity to call in.

The Hub was developed by Milton Keynes Council with a government grant, with the charging infrastructure provided by BP Chargemaster. I had heard on social media that the hub was recently completed. However there’s been nothing in the mainstream press about it – I’m guessing there’ll be an official launch soon.

It is quite difficult to find. It is tucked away at the far corner of the Coachway bus station (near Junction 14 of the M1) and there’s no signage in place yet. There were fresh road markings in place though.

The location is pretty good, not just because of proximity to the motorway. Being co-located with the bus station means that while you wait to charge there’s easy access on foot to its cafe and toilets (though you have to pay 30p for the latter).

The hub consists of a triangular island with 8 rapid chargers around its edge (why not 9?) all covered over with three large concrete ‘mushroom’ canopies for rain protection. I was there mid-week and it was pretty quiet, however two other EVs did call in even during the short time I was there topping up my i3.

Charging is through BP Chargemaster’s Polar network so requires either the Polar Instant app or Polar Plus subscription as described previously.

BP Chargemaster Rapid Charger at Milton Keynes Charging Hub (Image: T. Larkum)

The Hub is a great idea and seems to be implemented well. It also gives an exciting view into the future of organised EV charging, being potentially a bit like using an airport lounge. It represents another nail in the coffin of fossil fuel motoring – who would want to relax and eat at a petrol station?!

If there’s a criticism it’s just the usual one of uneven rapid charger allocation, and one can hardly blame MK council for taking every opportunity to support EVs. But for sure MK alone has more rapid chargers than anywhere else in the UK, including the entire country of Wales.

Electric cars could herald return of the ‘weekly shop’

January 12, 2019Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, OpinionRepost

An increase in electric car usage could be the saviour of the bricks and mortar retail sector, it has been claimed, as people may visit shopping parks and supermarkets to recharge their vehicles.

The “weekly shop” will see a comeback as drivers, especially those living in city centres who do not have a personal charging point in their homes, combine shopping with a regular charge of their car.

Scottish ministers want to phase out the need for petrol and diesel vehicles by 2032. However, those living in city centres, who do not have access to personal driveways and individual charging points will have to use public points to recharge their electric vehicles (EVs).

Barry Carruthers, head of innovation at ScottishPower, said that people would change their behaviour to find convenient charging points, including potentially ditching online grocery shopping in favour of visiting a physical supermarket where they could charge their car while they shop.

He said:

“A lot of people have recently been shopping online or using local convenience stores a few times a week, but when you have the added need to charge your car, you are likely to go back to a once a week shop at a supermarket where you can do that. We do see a potential renaissance for the weekly shop.”

Mr Carruthers, who has his own electric car which he charges at a range of locations including park and ride car parks at train stations for his daily commute, said:

“As electric cars progress, we could be looking at a range of 200 to 300 miles per charge, which would mean that people would only need to charge their vehicles once a week, which could easily be done while shopping.”

OVO installs its first domestic vehicle-to-grid charger

January 4, 2019Charging, Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Ovo EnergyRepost

OVO has successfully installed its first vehicle-to-grid charger in a customer’s home, after the charge point was unveiled at the Energy Technology Product Showcase earlier this year.

The 6kW OVO Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) domestic bi-directional charger offers drivers of certain electric vehicles the opportunity to discharge excess electricity from their cars back to the electric grid to help supply energy at times of peak demand.

Available to Nissan Leaf drivers with a 30 or 40kWh battery, the vehicle-to-grid charger could enable Nissan drivers to have free power for their electric vehicles by selling energy back to the grid, says OVO.

It is part of the Innovate UK Vehicle-to-Grid competition, funded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and the department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), in partnership with Nissan, CENEX, Indra and OVO.

Government sets July 2019 date for smart EV charging deadline

December 23, 2018Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

The government has confirmed that only ‘smart’ electric vehicle chargepoints can be installed from July next year.

In an announcement this morning, roads minister Jesse Norman and automotive minister Richard Harrington confirmed the phase-out date for older generation EV chargers, fulfilling a policy pledge first unveiled in October last year.

The government defines smart chargers as those which can be remotely accessed and capable of receiving, interpreting and acting on signals. Those capabilities will allow EV charging patterns to be remotely assessed and managed by a third-party, essentially protecting distribution grids from surges in demand.

In October last year the Department for Transport published its draft Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill, which established a number of broad stroke proposals for how the government planned to improve the country’s EV charging infrastructure.

The adoption of smart EV chargers formed a central point of that strategy and, now, the government has followed through by enforcing a firm deadline for their installation.

Harrington said: “Today’s measures will make it easier for consumers to move towards electric vehicles, helping us power towards a cleaner, greener future.”

New 450kW EV charger from BMW and Porsche is as fast as filling up with petrol

December 21, 2018BMW, Charging, Electric Cars, i3, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

BMW and Porsche’s prototype 450kW FastCharge unit can give 62 miles of range in just three minutes, once vehicle technology catches up

A new electric vehicle charger capable of delivering 100km (62 miles) worth of charge in just three minutes, and fully charging an EV’s batteries in just 15 minutes, has been developed by a number of German companies, including BMW and Porsche.

The companies’ 450kW (kilowatt) FastCharge system – while still a prototype – trebles the charge rates of the world’s rapid chargers’ at present, and promises “to make charging electric vehicles as fast and convenient as fuelling with petrol”.

When operating at its maximum 450kW capacity, it has proven capable of replenishing a BMW i3 (fitted with a “specially developed high-voltage battery”) from 10 to 80 per cent in just 15 minutes, and delivering 62 miles of range to a Porsche research vehicle in just three minutes.

While not technically a ‘full’ charge, this is representative of a full charge in real-world conditions, as manufacturers advise against recharging to 100 per cent, and most owners are unlikely to allow their batteries to drop below 10 per cent.

Germany gets huge EV charging station for 4,000 electric cars

December 17, 2018Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

German utility vehicle maker Sortimo has embarked upon what it says will be the world’s largest EV charging station on the A8 highway at Zusmarshausen between Stuttgart and Munich.

The completed project, which is set to offer 144 charging stations, will be able to charge up to 4,000 electric cars a day, every day, and will include 24 “fast chargers” rated German utility vehicle maker Sortimo has embarked upon what it says will be the world’s largest EV charging station on the A8 highway at Zusmarshausen between Stuttgart and Munich. 350kW DC and 120 rated at 50kW DC.

Charging infrastructure is one of the key factors in creating a smooth and robust transition to electric vehicles, and the speed with which EVs can charge according to charger capacity (and what drivers do while that happens) must also be taken into account.

A similar but smaller scheme in Holland (Image: FastNed)

Sortimo has recognised this need – while the 350kW will allow EVs to charge in as little as 10 minutes, the 50kW chargers require longer, so Sortimo’s charging station project is complimented by an “Innovation Park” which includes a shopping centre and conference rooms where drivers may book rooms for meetings while they wait.

Sortimo’s plans including storage of surplus renewable energy harvested from a network of surrounding companies and private homes, as well as thermal management to use waste heat to help power the park’s buildings.

When the project is finished, Sortimo states that for each year the station is use, 60,000 tons of CO2 emissions will be saved.

SWARCO eVolt Scoops Top National Award

December 16, 2018Charging, Electric Cars, Evolt, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

SWARCO eVolt has been named as Charging Refuelling Infrastructure Provider of the Year in the Green Fleet Awards, capping a remarkable 12 months in which the business has continued to dominate the Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging market.

Recognised not only for the reliability of its technology, but also the quality of its service, SWARCO eVolt has to date installed more than 6,250 commercial charge points throughout the country. This is in addition to in excess of 330 Rapid Charging stations to meet the needs of an expanding customer base that includes more than 88 Local Authorities and a large number of private businesses. It has also expanded its presence within the private sector with customers including Royal Mail, Heathrow Airport, Diageo, Scottish Power, Engenie and many more.

It is perhaps for its most recent work in creating one of the UK’s first ever charging point ‘hubs’ in Dundee, however, that SWARCO eVolt has come to the judges’ attention, scooping its first ever GreenFleet Awards title.

Angela Pisanu, editor of GreenFleet magazine, said: “Recent analysis of 50 rapid-charge points over a six-month period demonstrated that their uptime was an impressive 99.85 per cent. This reliability, together with the cost-effectiveness and ease of use of its charge points, made SWARCO eVolt this year’s winner of the Charging & Refuelling Infrastructure Provider of the Year Award.”

Justin Meyer, General Manager at SWARCO eVolt, confirmed it has been a remarkable year: “Winning this award reflects the hard work and commitment of our nationwide team in delivering best-in-class EV charging solutions to our clients. With an exciting number of new innovations and announcements due in 2019, we will not be resting on our laurels.”

Myenergi unveils new zappi charger to ‘bridge the gap’ between renewables and EVs

December 13, 2018Charging, Electric Cars, MyEnergi Zappi, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Energy technology company Myenergi has launched an updated version of its zappi EV charger, one that it says “bridges the gap” between renewable generation and electric vehicles.

The new zappi charger fully complies with new regulations to come into force next year, and professes to be far easier to install due to no earth rod being required.

It is to be available in four models, with capacities ranging from single-phase 7kW to three-phase 22kW in both tethered and untethered variants, and is available to pre-order now.

Speaking at the product’s launch event in London last week, co-founder Lee Sutton pointed towards the new zappi’s sleeker design profile and backed some of its new features – including new charging modes – to set it from the pack of domestic EV chargers.

Furthermore, a new myenergi hub device and mobile application will allow customers to connect their devices to the internet, essentially allowing to remotely control their energy consumption based on available data.

The launch event was attended by some of myenergi’s early-stage investors, including former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy, who heaped praise on the company for having established a consumer brand.

“It’s incredibly difficult to launch a consumer brand, but this team [myenergi] has done it,” he said.

Marston’s to become the first pub chain to offer a rapid EV charging network

December 12, 2018Charging, Electric Cars, Evolt, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Marston’s Inns and Taverns is to become the first UK pub company to roll out rapid electric vehicle chargers after announcing plans to work with Engenie to install 400 at sites nationwide.

The 50kW chargers will allow up to three cars to charge at each site simultaneously and will be powered by 100% renewable electricity.

Marston’s, which has an estate of over 1,600 pubs across the UK, says the installations will provide the building blocks for a nationwide network of rapid chargers.

Andy Kershaw, head of facilities management and projects at the independent chain, said: “Our goal is to become the UK’s most environmentally efficient pub business. By partnering with innovative and customer-focused organisations like Engenie, we’ll continue to hold ourselves and the sector to the highest possible environmental standards.”

The chargers will be provided by SWARCO eVolt, offering contactless payment for ease of use and are compatible with all EVs currently on the market.

Justin Meyer, general manager at SWARCO eVolt, said: “Marston’s is a forward-thinking company that puts its customers first. Engenie, with its customer-centred approach, is the perfect fit for Marston’s and we are delighted to have been selected as their chosen solution provider.”