Aftermarket March 2022

MARCH 2022 AFTERMARKET 57 www.aftermarketonline.net Below: ctek charging point towards a way to charge EVs while they are on the move. As was previously reported in Aftermarket, a recent SMMT study found the ratio of vehicle chargepoints to plug-in cars dropped by 31% during 2020, as the growth in sales was not being matched by an equal expansion of on- street charging. However, according to Denso Pan European Strategic Marketing Manager Fatiha Laauich, the issue could become moot: “Wireless power transfer technology is already widely used to charge devices such as smartphones and electric toothbrushes. By applying it to the world of electric mobility, EV batteries will be able to be charged on the move, or more precisely, when the vehicle comes to a stop during a journey, which will enable EVs to keep running without stopping to charge. “With this development, not only does driving an EV have a less harmful impact on the environment, it also avoids competition to find and use, often for lengthy period, a public charging point, and provides an advantage that is just not possible with a traditionally fuelled vehicle. Although the concept would be able to operate wherever the technology is integrated into the infrastructure, it really comes into its own when city driving, where in busy areas many vehicles spend half the time sitting at red lights or at rest due to congestion.” She added: “DENSO has been undertaking demonstration testing in collaboration with industry and academia based on an open innovation approach. The company is looking to start the social experiment during 2022. Around 2025, the company intends to begin practical applications of the technology in compact mobility systems inside DENSO’s plants.” For more information, visit: www.denso.com/global/en/news/stories/all/21061 0-01/ev-battery/ EV ownership prime locations identified Coventry is the best place in the UK to own an EV, according to new research that took into account the cost of charging an EV at home, number of standard and rapid EV charging points per 100,000 people, and the number of rapid charging points per registered EV in the area. The survey, from personal finance guidance and comparison website Forbes Advisor, identified the city as number one in a list of the top British locations best for EV ownership based on an EV Accessibility Rating out of 80. The 10 best cities to own an EV, with their EV Accessibility Rating, are: 1. Coventry: 70 2. Sunderland: 67 3. Newcastle: 63 4. Leeds: 56 5. Middlesbrough: 52 6. London: 49 7. Reading: 49 8. Sheffield: 46 9. Glasgow: 44 10. Cardiff: 39 Kevin Pratt, car insurance expert at Forbes Advisor, said: “Sales of electric cars are booming, and we can expect to see more EVs on the road as we approach the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel-powered vehicles. That means we need to see acceleration in the number and distribution of charging points so that drivers can enjoy easy access to the power they need. It’s good to see cities across the UK getting to grips with the issue.” For more information, visit: www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/car-insurance/ev-does- it-uks-top-cities-for-electric-vehicle-ownership/ Integrated EV charging With away-from-home EV charging seemingly on the rise, CTEK is looking to help businesses generate revenue from their EV chargers more easily by integrating the CTEK Chargestorm Connected 2 (CC2) EV charger with Fuuse Billing payment management software. A recent CTEK/YouGov survey of 1,667 UK EV drivers suggested although that 68% of UK EV drivers still prefer to charge at home, 37% are now using public or destination chargers, 12% are charging at work and 9% at petrol stations. Previous estimates projected that up to 90% of EV charging was taking place at home. Cecilia Routledge, CTEK Global Director, Energy and Facilities said: “We are delighted to be making the Fuuse platform available to CTEK customers. Fuuse and CTEK are both committed to providing customers with maximum flexibility through open charge point protocol compliant (OCCP) products and solutions, and this new option to provide CTEK chargers with Fuuse Billing incorporated adds an important new dimension to our customer offering. This is especially so because, with the gradual shift towards destination and public charging, we expect more local authorities, hoteliers, retailers, employers, fleet managers and other charge point operators to be looking for an EV charging solution that not only meets driver demand, but also provides opportunities for revenue generation. The CTEK/Fuuse solution allows them to do just that.” Fuuse Managing Director Michael Gibson added: “It’s great to be working with CTEK in enabling their customers to generate revenue from their chargers. The EV rollout is certainly accelerating, and we want to make it as easy as possible for charge point owners and operators to reap the benefits and opportunities that the EV revolution presents.” For more information, visit ctek.com and fuuse.io We are at a pivotal moment to make urban mobility more responsible, equitable and sustainable ”