A network of charging points to connect electric vehicles (EVs) directly with green energy is to be rolled out across the UK.
Green Motion (UK) has partnered with Hertfordshire-based Green Energy to charge its Network One stations with power from clean energy technologies, such as wind and solar.
The breakthrough boosts the green credentials of EV charging stations as it counters the argument that electric vehicles don’t improve the environment because they still need electricity from carbon-based energy production.
Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show, Green Motion's UK managing director, Stewart Mckee said: “This is a game changing industry partnership, which will accelerate the adoption of electric cars and reduce carbon-based energy reliance.
“It is also hugely significant to the UK’s global technology position, in the rapidly growing zero emission transport sector.”
Green Energy's chief executive, Douglas Stewart, added: “Electric vehicles are a huge step forward but much more is required, otherwise progress made here just pollutes someone else’s back yard.
“We hope to make sure that electric vehicle customers make a positive difference and this partnership takes us another step closer to a cleaner future. Now we are making a difference.”
Launched into the UK this year, the Network One station is already successful in Switzerland, Germany and France.
The system has been designed with the built-in flexibility to update to new technologies, reflecting the difficult task faced by public and private sector specifiers in making early infrastructure decisions, ahead of the mass arrival of electric vehicles and experience of real life use. The Green Motion system accommodates different plug formats, and charging rates. It integrates with new and existing RFID systems, has online management services and each is equipped with maximum communication potential.
Green Motion (UK) believes that by 2018 there will be around 100,000 charging stations in the UK. Forty per cent of installations will be based in homes, 50 per cent in semi public places such as company and supermarket car parks and 10 per cent on the public streets, funded by local and central Government.
There are presently 25,000 planned installations, announced by UK local Government authorities, to be completed by 2015.
In the future the same technology will also facilitate vehicle to grid load balancing, which allows energy generators to rely more on renewable alternatives without risk of supply interruption.
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