EV CHARGING TRENDS FOR 2023 AND THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIFICATION

Most trends come and go, but it’s safe to say that the future of transport is electric.

Indeed, despite global production challenges, microchip shortages, supply chain disruptions and the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2022 was yet another record-breaking year for EV registrations.

According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), more than 300,000 battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles were collectively registered throughout the year – almost four times the number of diesel cars sold. Insight from Statista suggests that this growth will only increase, with a CAGR of 13.89% projected between now and 2027, leading to sales of more than 637,000 new EVs per annum.

As a result, alongside the burgeoning growth of the used EV marketplace, demand for charging solutions continues to increase at pace. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), this will continue to see both public and private infrastructure grow rapidly – with significant investment expected in support.

So, what themes are we likely to see emerge from the EV charging sector this year? Jordan has put together five key trends that she expects to see impact the marketplace (as well as consumer charging behaviours) over the coming months.

Although it’s positive to see more EVs than ever plugged in to public charging points across the UK, keeping charging stations free has become somewhat of a challenge. In the past, the bugbear for any EV driver was petrol or diesel vehicles blocking working charging points. However, now we have a new enemy – EV users that don’t move their cars once charging has finished.

For consumers, this leads to frustration and unnecessary delays. For providers, a clear loss of revenue. In 2023, we’re likely to see new and innovative solutions unveiled to tackle the challenge. From charging point sensors and a wealth of new apps, to charges/fines for malpractice.

While the headlines often surround public charging, it’s important to remember that more than 85% of charging takes place at home. As such, Jordan says she is confident that the domestic charging market will see its fastest growth in 2023 – resulting in an increase in unit sales and installations, alongside a wealth of new products and technologies making it to market.

For those who don’t have a driveway, Jordan believes that we’ll see progress made towards developing safe, secure, hazard-free on-street charging solutions for those who previously had to trail charging wires across the pavement. We’ve already seen a number of developments here that will start to pick up pace as the year progresses.

Continuing on the theme of domestic charging, it’s worth mentioning the importance of future-proof tech and the ability to harness self-generated energy to charge your EV. After all, data from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme suggests that more householders than ever are adopting renewables to offset their reliance on mains supply and reduce their carbon footprint.

This trend is expected to continue in 2023 – especially when it comes to solar and domestic-scale wind generation. After all, the energy price crisis rumbles on with no sign of abating any time soon, meaning consumers are being forced to take matters into their own hands.

In the same sentence as smart charging, you’ll often hear the terms V2H (vehicle to home), V2X (vehicle to everything), V2L (vehicle to load) and V2G (vehicle to grid). After all, EVs are basically just mobile batteries.

The idea behind V2G is the opportunity to store energy in the EV battery and return it to the grid in times of peak demand. This would not only earn you money, but also help to flatten electricity usage curves.

It’s a smart idea and one that could deliver significant value from a decentralised energy perspective. myenergi is working on numerous demand side response trials to see how the load balancing capability of EVs could work in practice – it’s set to be a major talking point in 2023.

While Jordan may have referred to the above themes as ‘trends’ for the new year, in all honesty she says they’re far more. The transition to electrification is growing in momentum and the industry is progressing quickly to support its future.

From CaaS and technology improvements, to the incremental growth of domestic charging and its ability to balance the grid, these ‘trends’ are actually some of the key areas supporting growth – rather than gimmicks that will soon be forgotten.

myenergi says it’s excited to be driving the industry forward in 2023 and supporting the global transition to electrification. It has a number of exciting announcements planned for the next 12 months and says it is looking forward to seeing the sector continue to grow.

myenergi, myenergi.com