Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is essential for EV adoption. The review highlights the need for transparent pricing, continued public support, and improved data accessibility. Standardised labelling and consumer protection can enhance customer experience, while subsidies and partnerships are crucial for infrastructure development. Gathering more data and understanding driver preferences will aid in future planning efforts.
- The Crucial Role of Charging Infrastructure:
As more Australians turn to electric vehicles, a robust and accessible charging infrastructure becomes the backbone of a successful EV ecosystem. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), effective policy frameworks are essential to overcome key barriers in developing Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE). These frameworks include setting clear deployment targets, establishing supportive regulations, mobilizing funding, and providing financial incentives.
- Designing Incentive Schemes:
Creating incentive schemes to promote the development of charging infrastructure requires a careful examination of various factors. Policymakers must consider funding collection and allocation, as well as future impacts stemming from widespread EV deployment. The choice of incentive scheme varies based on these factors, with options ranging from ad-hoc programs offering incentives to individual EV owners or EVSE providers, to comprehensive investments in network development or centralized network development tenders.
- Charging Infrastructure at the Local Level:
Municipalities in Australia play a vital role in supporting EV charging infrastructure. By providing incentives and support, they can efficiently process charging station siting applications and allocate dedicated parking spaces exclusively for electric vehicles or charging activities. For instance, the city of Paris offers dedicated free parking spots for EVs, while Amsterdam follows a demand-based approach, installing chargers based on residents’ requests who lack private or off-street alternatives nearby. The UK’s national program for supporting local authorities in deploying on-street charging infrastructure requires applicants to demonstrate a lack of off-street parking access.
- Regional and National Initiatives:
Beyond local efforts, regional and national governments can contribute to charging infrastructure deployment through policy interventions. Public-private partnerships are one successful approach, where the government collaborates with private entities to build out charging networks. The West Coast Electric Highway in the US, supported by three states and federal funding, is an example of a public-private partnership. In Australia, initiatives like the state of Connecticut’s grant offerings to both public and private entities installing Level 2 charging equipment show promising potential.
- Ensuring Clarity in Asset Ownership:
Clarity in asset ownership is vital for infrastructure financed by governments or ratepayers. Ambiguity in ownership can lead to underinvestment in network maintenance, affecting the overall charging infrastructure’s quality and reliability. Transparent ownership arrangements can reduce transaction costs, mobilize private capital, and enable prospective investors to confidently invest in the charging infrastructure.
- Network Impacts of EV Charging:
Integrating EV charging into the electricity network requires careful consideration. The uptake of EVs at scale will necessitate changes and upgrades to the physical electricity networks to accommodate localized peaks in demand. However, managing EV charging demands can reduce the need for extensive network investments. By providing storage and grid services, EVs can help optimize distribution and transmission levels, easing the strain on the electricity grid.
- Leveraging Smart Charging:
Implementing smart or responsive charging infrastructure can avoid an increase in network costs. Retail tariff structures, such as time-of-use (TOU) tariffs, can encourage off-peak charging, reducing strain on the grid during peak hours. Studies have shown that responsive charging can lead to substantial savings, like the “My Electric Avenue” project in the UK, which estimated savings of approximately £2.2 billion by 2050 through demand response for EV charging.
Conclusion:
As electric vehicles continue to gain traction in Australia, the development of a robust charging infrastructure network becomes paramount. Through effective policy frameworks, incentive schemes, and collaborations between various stakeholders, Australia can pave the way for a sustainable and efficient EV charging ecosystem. With the integration of smart charging solutions, Australia is poised to embrace the future of clean and green transportation. ‘
Paper Title: The state of play in electric vehicle charging services – A review of infrastructure provision, players, and policies
Authors:
Sarah LaMonaca a,1, Lisa Ryan a,b,*
a UCD Energy Institute, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
b UCD School of Economics, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
The full paper is under the Creative Commons License CC BY 4.0 and is available here.