In 2019, ministers ran a consultation on smart charging functionality to assess potential issues with grid power supply. And in December 2021 the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021was signed into law.
So rather upgrading the grid or digitalising it as the EU are doing to cope with the upcoming ban on new ICE sales in 2030, 2035. we will undoubtably see more EV’s on our roads, our goverment hide’s in the fridge, then decide’s to come out with smart charge points as a way of getting around the problem.
In the same way our goverment has not mandated 3 pase supply’s in new build home’s (only that they shall have a charge point fitted) or retro fitting 3 phase in existing homes when they have a charge point fitted. What does this mean to UK homes – simply we are limited to 7.4Kw charge points!
Many of our European friends already have 3 phase supplies in their home, along with 11Kw charge points a common appearance. It also mean’s as more BEV’s use 22Kw onboard charger’s, simple swop to a 22Kw charge point and maybe a cable upgrade is all that is needed.
I hear so many people say their BEV has a 22Kw onboard charger – unless your main charging habits are away from home it means diddly squat, to a home owner who charge’s at home the majority of time.
To put this into perscpective if you BEV take’s 9hrs to charge on a 7.4Kw charger it will take around 3hrs on a 22Kw charger, in line with the small window of cheaper electricty tariff
Smart chargers aren’t a revolution, rather a way to cope and prevent us going back to the dark age’s sooner!