Exploring IoT's impact on EV charging – Highlights from our webinar

The UK government is ramping up its EV infrastructure with a target of 300,000 public chargers by 2030—currently there are 64,000, a nearly 50% increase from last year. Although home chargers remain the dominant method for charging, the demand for public and destination chargers is growing, with the shift to electric vehicles continuing to gain momentum amongst fleets.

As the EV market grows, so does the need for efficient and accessible EV charging infrastructure. 

In August, we sat down with Simon Ralphs, CEO of Smart Green Chargers, a B2B EV solutions provider based in the UK, to discuss the current state and future of the industry. We also talked about how IoT is enhancing this ecosystem. Ralphs shared his expertise on the challenges and innovations shaping the EV charging landscape within the UK, highlighting the intersection of technology, regulation, and sustainability in this rapidly evolving market.

Key takeaways you should know

During the webinar, we discussed a range of topics, including power challenges, regulatory changes and the vital role of connectivity. Here are three key takeaways:

1. Power limitations delay rollouts and increase reliance on supplementary power sources

Power supply constraints are a major challenge for public EV charging stations. Restrictions from Distributed Network Operators (DNO) often delay installations for high-capacity public chargers. To address limitations, companies have turned to employing alternative sources of energy.

Ralphs highlighted an interesting example, where Tesla chargers at an Oxford motorway service station partially rely on generators for power. While solar energy may provide a more sustainable alternative, it falls short as a standalone solution for powering charging stations.

Solar does get interesting, but more from a sort of top up point of view…I don’t foresee public charging stations driven by (solar) power.” — Simon Ralphs

2. Rising legal standards require reliability, safety, and customer support improvements

Regulations are raising the bar for reliability, safety, and customer experience. While some regulations and guidance documents have left local councils in the UK questioning how to best implement on-street charging, requirements like 99% uptime and 24/7 customer support point to the significant role that IoT and SIMs play in EV charging infrastructure.

Here’s an overview of different regulations impacting EV chargers:

3. Reliable connectivity is key for effective EV charging operations

Strong connectivity is essential for enabling reliable operations, remote diagnostics, and dynamic payment systems. Ralphs noted that, in Scotland, the absence of chargers is not due to hardware failures, but rather to connectivity issues, drawing attention to the integral role that connectivity plays in charging operations.

In addition to reducing the need for on-site troubleshooting, having strong connectivity also enables informed decision making. Chargers store an immense amount of information, which can help companies to optimize energy usage during low-cost periods, in turn, maximizing revenue.

With connectivity also comes increased vulnerability and responsibility. While it can increase reliability, streamline processes, and offer valuable insights, it’s important to have solid cybersecurity mechanisms in place to protect data and devices. 

The Future of EV charging 

As the EV charging market continues to develop within the UK, several trends are likely to shape its future. These include market consolidation, specialized insurance products, charger sharing and vehicle-to-grid technology.

Market consolidation

While the industry is currently young and entrepreneurial, as it matures, it will most likely experience consolidation.

Specialized insurance products

Specialized insurance solutions, such as those for charge point operators (CPOs), are emerging to address risks like public liability and revenue loss. 

Charger sharing

With the charge points requirements in Building Regulations Part S, homeowners may start renting out their chargers to others, optimizing existing infrastructure through a peer-to-peer model.

Vehicle to Grid (V2G) technology

In the future, EVs could act as a power source, supplying power to homes or back to the grid when not in use. 

From tackling power limitations to meeting regulatory standards, the EV charging landscape will continue to evolve to ensure that both drivers and businesses are able to make a successful transition to electric vehicles.

Technology will help to shape the future of this space, with IoT connectivity playing a critical role in enhancing efficiency and supporting the growth of a smarter, more adaptive charging infrastructure.