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In my interview with TotallyEV, I shared my thoughts on how electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructures enable digital transformation and drive sustainable outcomes.
Let’s consider these global EV trends:
- By 2050, over 80% of the world’s electricity could derive from renewable sources.
- BloombergNEF Electric Vehicle Outlook 2021 reports that over 169 million EVs will be on the roads by 2030. They also estimate 500 EV connectors to be installed by 2040.
- According to IDTechEx, sales increased by 160% in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. According to the UK’s transport minister Rachel Maclean, the key increased uptake depends on the charging infrastructure.
This is what the future of net-zero transportation looks like
Today, it is already a reality in Norway, with roughly 98% of its electricity being renewable, with the share of plug-in cars reaching 84.6% – something that no doubt provides the satisfaction of clean air to motorists and helps protect the planet.
These fundamental marketplace trends are accelerating the transition to electric-powered vehicles. Both global and local regulatory bodies are mandating specific legislation towards using cleaner forms of energy. For instance, mandates have been put into place in the UK and France to phase out conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles between 2030-2040.
Citizens and governments across geographies also demand higher sustainability and lower carbon emissions from products they consume and use. In the eyes of much of the public, EVs offer an effective and concrete solution for:
- Reducing the transportation-driven carbon footprint
- Increasing sustainability
- Minimizing emissions
- Optimizing grid energy consumption.
However, these benefits hinge on developing a robust charging infrastructure that will be both globally accessible and reliable.
How to create a resilient grid?
Some people might assume that fast charging points or accurate and instant billing are required to create a resilient grid. In my opinion, the answer lies in industry partnerships and cooperation that drive tech innovation. According to a recent survey by IDC, 96% of companies are either already or considering co-creation with vendors to develop new sustainable and efficient digital products and services.
As we accelerate towards a global goal of halving emissions within the next nine years to be in a position to achieve net-zero by 2050, I believe more investment in smart grids will become a part of public-private partnerships in a post-pandemic world.
Energy provides access to a better life. Smart grid technology delivers resilience to developed nations while enabling access to energy and its availability for developing nations through software and the integration of solar PV and microgrids.
The transportation tipping point
Both the automotive industry and society as a whole are finding themselves at a critical tipping point. In a world where over 1 billion fossil fuel-powered motor vehicles circulate across tens of millions of kilometers of roads, the infrastructure that powers these vehicles is about to change radically.
A wide variety of players make up today’s eMobility ecosystem, including automobile manufacturers, charging point operators, utilities, service providers, fleet owners, EV charging station providers, buildings owners and managers, and EV drivers themselves. These stakeholders uniquely contribute to the evolution of an integrated system that provides the service required to realize economic and environmental benefits.
Within the eMobility space, partnerships can help design energy-efficient EV batteries (manufacturing energy contributes at least 50% of battery life-cycle emissions), identify smart tariffs based on location, time, and used power – including the ability to monitor the EV infrastructure performance and rectify any issues in real-time. In turn, this drives EV manufacturing demand and supports more widespread consumer adoption.
For this future to become a reality, strong industry partnerships are required to spearhead tech innovation at scale. Learn more about our vision for Partnerships of the Future to support the future of EV.
[Original content published Dec. 10, 2021 on TotallyEV.com]
