SP Energy Networks is seeking participants to take part in a major trial of an electric vehicle (EV) charging solution across Cheshire, Merseyside, North Shropshire, and North and Mid-Wales.
The trial, which is part of the Charge Point initiative, will evaluate the performance of ‘smart charging connections’, which can intelligently control the power consumption of EV chargepoints.
Charge Project is an initiative from SP Energy Networks and its partners EA Technology, PTV Group and Smarter Grid Solutions which aims to accelerate the roll-out of public EV charging infrastructure in the region.
Geoff Murphy, lead for the Charge Project at SP Energy Networks, commented: ‘Creating a comprehensive EV charging infrastructure is vital to helping our communities achieve their net zero carbon goals and a key part of the “green economic recovery” of the UK post-COVID-19.
‘To make that happen, we need to safely and effectively manage the demand on the electricity network that increased EV charging will create. We believe that smart charging connections are a vital part of the solution – the results from this trial will improve our understanding of how they work in real world scenarios.’
SP Energy Networks is keen to hear from regional businesses, developers and chargepoint operators (CPOs) who are currently considering the installation of chargepoints, and may like to take part in this trial.
‘If the UK is to genuinely embrace a greener future, there needs to be a dramatic increase in the number of EV chargepoints available to drivers,’ said Dr Graham Ault, executive director at Smarter Grid Solutions.
‘Companies and site owners may have been put off in the past from installing chargepoints due to excessive costs or distribution network issues, but smart charging connection technology can help to solve these problems.
‘This is a vital part of the Charge Project’s commitment to deliver both economic and environmental benefits to communities across the country.’
