Europe goes electric
How the EV market is shaping the energy landscape
While energy supply issues and price increases have been felt across the world in recent years, Europe has been affected more than most. At the same time, climate change is registering at an everyday level, which has pushed the quest for clean, sustainable energy to an unprecedented degree.
As a developed region and broadly prosperous market, Europe is in a good position to embrace change. Utilities have a critical role to play in achieving fast solutions. And while they’re being increasingly required to do so by authorities, many have shown initiative already. Meanwhile, mobility continues to receive enormous attention, with electric vehicles (EVs) surging in popularity. Energy suppliers and producers of all kinds are a key link between the EV trend and that of clean energy.
While the specifics of energy generation and supply may be difficult to process for most consumers, how we get around is an easier topic to grasp. So, e-mobility is an ideal chance for utilities to position their brands as green in a relatable way.
As this e-book will explore, there are plenty of concrete ways to do that — and take advantage of the economic opportunities on offer.
The United Kingdom has banned the sale of traditional fossil-fuel cars from 2030. The European Union follows suit from 2035 onwards.
Existing electric technology is the simplest, most efficient alternative for passenger and light commercial vehicles, with heavier vehicle segments catching up more and more. Public transportation also turns out to be a prime ground for electrification.
While most cars currently on the road in Europe are petrol and diesel, the growth in the sale of new electric and hybrid machinery means the figures will soon look very different.
As existing internal combustion engines reach the end of their useful lives, the future British and European bans mean buyers will have no choice but to replace them with alternative drive technology.
Existing electric technology is the simplest, most efficient alternative for passenger and light commercial vehicles, with heavier vehicle segments catching up more and more.
Existing petrol stations, for example, are racing to add charging stations to their forecourts. These are also popping up at retail car parks, highway rest stops, workplaces and residential complexes.
As the charging port count for Europe approaches 500,000 — from under 150,000 in early 2020 — gaps in the network are closing all the time. This is making owning or driving an EV more viable by the day. Yet charging infrastructure development shows significant differences from country to country.
Despite its small size, the Netherlands has the most public charging ports, with over 100,000 to its name. Continental giants France and Germany are also well-covered, while non-EU countries Norway and the United Kingdom also have a high level of coverage. Italy and Spain, however, show significantly fewer charging opportunities for EV drivers, despite comparable size.
Charge point density across Europe (2022). Source: European Alternative Fuels Observatory
Both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) charging feature prominently in the current landscape. DC is associated with exceptionally fast charging, but only about 10% of charging stations in the EU offered this rapid charging option at the latest count. After a period of volatility, both AC and DC have grown at a comparable rate since Q1 2022.
Meanwhile, Plug & Charge technology is emerging as a standard EV feature. This ISO 15118 protocol allows for seamless, standardised charging and billing — thus eliminating any complexities related to different suppliers or networks. Apart from making charging smoother and simpler, it also allows Vehicle to Grid (V2G) power transfer (see ‘Opportunities’).
Energy utilities play an obvious role in the viability of electric vehicles as the EV market continues to grow. In addition to macro challenges such as developing renewable energy sources to meet emissions targets, they also need to deal with new grid load demands related to increased EV charging activity.
Energy producers of all descriptions — from established utilities to startups — need to pull together to ensure a stable electricity supply in the e-mobility age. That means taking new user behaviour and energy consumption patterns into account. While meeting all these challenges isn’t easy, new technology including V2G and advanced load management software makes doing so entirely realistic.
