Electric Vehicles: The Hidden Challenges

For as long as cars have existed, electric vehicles have remained in the background. It is fair to say that we now have the chemistry and physics in place to deliver significantly improved battery performance, which in some cases outperforms the internal combustion engine. Transport is a technology we have never abandoned and have continually sought to improve and develop. Throughout history, we have aimed to travel faster, safer, and more comfortably.

The adoption of electric vehicles is growing rapidly, and all of these vehicles require power. This may come as a surprise to some, but in the UK, electricity infrastructure is not currently designed to cope with such a significant increase in demand. It’s not that there is no desire to increase capacity; rather, the demand for electrification could push the grid to its limits during peak periods.

While planning and designing new grid infrastructure is underway, upgrading systems to support vehicle electrification is an extremely complex and costly task that will inevitably take time. It’s important to remember that it won’t just be cars—trains, buses, emergency vehicles, and trucks will also require new sources of power.

This is not a new question or problem; there are already ideas on how to mitigate excess demand. One of the challenges we are addressing at Critical Software is enabling network operators to detect when a vehicle is plugged in and control how much electricity it can draw during peak demand. We have spent several years developing key components of the UK’s smart programme and are well positioned to deliver practical solutions.

What if the car is already fully charged? It could be instructed to supply power to the home—after all, an electric vehicle is essentially a large battery on wheels. What if you are at home during the day? Solar panels could charge your vehicle during daylight hours, and in turn, the vehicle could power your home at night.

The intelligent aspect of this system is that your car or charger could automatically select a lower-cost tariff, encouraging charging at off-peak times, such as 2 a.m. rather than 6 p.m.

Critical Software has already developed the first available Standalone Auxiliary Proportional Controller (SAPC) solution and will soon follow with Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) v2.0.1, which will help support the safe and rapid growth of electric vehicles.

We are a problem-solving company, and this is a challenge we are helping to address. In the meantime, learn more about how we have contributed to groundbreaking projects in the energy sector, supporting the deployment of more than 50 million smart meters.