European Electricity Companies Call for Standardization of Plug-in Vehicle Charging Infrastructure; Pledge to Apply Pre-Standards
28 October 2009
Some 50 representative of European electricity companies, power distribution system operators and national electricity sector associations have signed a Declaration on infrastructure for charging electric vehicles.
The signatories to the Declaration confirm their determination to cooperate with the various stakeholders towards the development and application of industry pre-standards until standards have been set by the official standards bodies ISO/IEC and call upon policymakers to support the drive towards a climate-friendly transport sector.
The electricity CEOs specifically pledged to undertake and promote investment in infrastructure necessary to foster the development of all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Meanwhile, a EURELECTRIC Task Force on Electric Vehicles is working to identify the market hurdles slowing down the development of common infrastructure standards and to help overcome these obstacles.
The Union of the Electricity Industry-EURELECTRIC is the sector association which represents the common interests of the electricity industry at pan-European level, plus its affiliates and associates on several other continents. The association was formed as a result of a merger in December 1999 of the sister sector bodies UNIPEDE and EURELECTRIC.
Ok, so let me predict - cheek slightly in tongue (but nonetheless cynical), this will involve not using the good old household 240V 3-pin UK plug, or the continetal 220V 2-pin plug or the teeny 110v US plug. It will be a Euro issue plug made especially for the Electric Car Market.
This will come alongside a Government issued electricity meter, so that you're charged for the electricity that is used, plus government taxes, because governments are going to have to get back the revenues that they lose from lower fuel duty receipts. They'll put on some kind of spin with regards to how too much electricity still comes from coal, social costs yadda, yadda - blah de blah, so that the 2p per mile cost will suddenly be hiked up to 10-15p per mile to run your plug-in.
Posted by: Scott | 28 October 2009 at 05:05 AM
Surely it's the plug on the car we're talking about here. The plug at the other end will be appropriate to the country you live in.
As for taxation, that'll be time and distance based when everyone's driving an efficient EV.
Posted by: Scatter | 28 October 2009 at 08:47 AM
It strikes me there are two kinds of charging - slow (overnight) and fast.
Overnight (or slow charging) should be able to use standard 220/240 volt plugs, with a little intelligence and timing to charge at the cheapest times.
This should be easy enough.
Fast charging is another matter, this will require very high currents, and heavy cabling / plugs.
Thus, this cannot be done from domestic supplies and will require a new set of standards and charging stations.
I imagine most cars would be able to be charged by both methods, eventually.
Posted by: mahonj | 28 October 2009 at 11:30 AM
Ok, so let me predict - cheek not tongue
EV's will be a significant market is Europe before the US.
Posted by: dursun | 28 October 2009 at 12:18 PM