Installation of the UK’s first 150kW electric vehicle rapid chargers will begin in this half of 2018, the CEO of Pod Point has told Autocar.
The brand’s new chargers will have the highest EV plug power in Britain. Erik Fairbairn, who founded the London-based charger company in 2009, said this will allow them to provide significantly faster charge times than the UK’s current network of 50kW plugs.
This will enable the latest EV models, such as the Jaguar I-Pace, Audi E-tron and Volkswagen ID, to achieve their headline charge times.
“We’re bringing this to market as the UK is on the cusp of an electric revolution,” said Fairbairn. “We’re about to see a lot more EVs go on sale, so bringing the 150kW charger out now is a logical next step for us.”
The plug-in car segment soared by 34.8% last year, representing 4.7% of the new car market with 119,000 examples registered.
The I-Pace, which is due on roads in July, is claimed to be capable of charging its 90kWh lithium ion battery pack to 80% in just 45min. With the UK's current 50kW rapid chargers, it would need around 90min.
Everything you wanted to know about electric cars
Fairbairn said Pod Point’s new 150kW chargers won’t risk overloading the UK’s electricity infrastructure, despite concerns that more powerful plugs could cause power shortages in some areas.
Tesla's Superchargers are capable of dispensing 145kW, but current Tesla models can only accept up to 120kW.
“The reality, in my view, is that a lot of the grid problems have been overstated,” Fairbairn said. “I admit there is a challenge, but much of it can be overcome with smart charging.”
Fairbairn said that places with multiple 150kW chargers would be able to manage the flow of power to each car in order to “charge each one before the owner returns” without overloading the local network.
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150kw
So how many, currently for sale, electric cars can take the new chargers output? According to the report Tesla superchargers put out upto 145kw but the cars are rated to 120kw. Is this purely future proofing or are these 150kw rated chargers useful for a mk1 leaf, i3 or zoe etc?
Flawed system
What exactly does 'intelligently' mean? Could it possible mean the more cars hooking up to the locally installed grid, the longer each one will take to charge?
I'm sure one day electric cars will become the norm but that day is so far away. Sounds like even the latest infrastructure projects are flawed.
This has always been my issue with electric cars - technology changes so fast, who wants even a two year old car as it's already out-of-date!
Queuing?
The argument for being able to perform longer journeys with an EV is that you’ll be able to stop off enroute for a charge. Well, it’ll only take 25 mins won’t it so time for a coffee.
However, what if you’re not first? What if as EV take up increases the number of EV sales has somewhat ramped up quicker than charger installations?
So, what if when you arrive for your 25min top up, you’re actually third in the queue. Best get yourself a big coffee!
I’m not anti EV but this scenario is never considered. No doubt the on board tech will try to minimise this but if there aren’t enough, there aren’t enough.
I can see a future where multiple EV drivers are all racing to known free chargers, whilst also knowing the location of other cars doing the same.
EV charger races! Coming to Top Gear or Grand Tour soon ..
Queuing?
I think you'll find that all the apps that locate chargers know if its being used or not . https://www.zap-map.com/live/