Wales has bold ambitions when it comes to the future of Electric Vehicles (EVs). The Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy for Wales, published last year, is explicit in stating that the success of EVs is entirely dependent on having an effective and reliable charging infrastructure. This in turn is dependent on having ‘the sufficient resources, capabilities and skills … to underpin delivery, and maximise the benefits and opportunities for the country’.
The phasing out of petrol and diesel engine cars in favour of EVs is key to the Government achieving its net zero goals. While take-up of EVs is currently still comparatively low, and the charging infrastructure is in the early stages of development, the ambition is high: to ensure that by 2025, all EV and electric vans will have easy access to a charge point where and when they need it.
It has some way to go: current statistics (source: ZapMap July 2022) suggest that Wales has the third lowest number of charge points in the UK (1,218). Leaving the Isle of Man aside, only the people and businesses in the North East (1,059) and Northern Ireland (332) are less well served. This is both a huge challenge, or an even greater opportunity, depending on whether your glass is half empty, or half full.
What is particularly interesting about the strategy is the Transport Minister’s commitment to ensuring the infrastructure is in the right place to boost vehicle owners’ confidence and create wider economic opportunity for businesses and people in Wales. Location of the charge points is therefore critical; charging stations within the major conurbations and at multi-modal transport modes (such as railway stations) are a given. But what will really build confidence is the availability of charging in more remote areas including rural communities, and in places where off-street charging is impractical.
Experience counts
This is where experience counts and working with a partner with a proven track record not only in the systems it installs and supports, but also in its long-term outlook to addressing the infrastructure challenge, is a must.
When SWARCO Smart Charging first launched in the UK more than a decade ago, our mission was to become the most trusted partner to our local authority and Public Sector customers, a safe pair of hands in bringing the insight and experience to guide those customers to the right solutions. We recognised very quickly that it wasn’t simply about having smart technology; customers also wanted smart people, smart funding models and smart way of working.
Technology is only a small part of how the success of any future projects will be judged. More important will be whether that technology is still supported 10 years down the line by a business that is in it for the long term and can demonstrate that it truly understands the challenges you face, and the vision you want to realise.
To this end, SWARCO Smart Charging can look to its history serving the people in Scotland and can draw many parallels between the successful work it has done there, and the work now being asked of us and others by the local authorities in Wales. The similarities are plentiful.
Like Wales, Scotland is blessed with wide open spaces; a dream for local people and tourists; a potential nightmare for EV drivers and commercial fleets who could find themselves a hundred or more miles away from the nearest charge point. Like Wales, Scotland also has mixed demographics and affluence, raising both practical and economic challenges. Delivering charging that is reliable, accessible, and at a cost that is affordable, can only be realised through experience. Creating the right high-power infrastructure to engage businesses and support tourism is also something that requires an expert hand. Decisions made today will likely impact the operational and financial success of future projects – and whether or not the net zero targets are met.
Partners in Wales
Of course, some of this work has already started, with multiple solutions to address multiple needs. When Carmarthenshire County Council launched its 10-year EV infrastructure strategy this year, it wanted to develop the network necessary to enable employees, residents, communities, visitors and businesses to use EVs as part of their everyday routine. SWARCO Smart Charging has helped with the installation of the Cross Hands ultra-fast charging hub, the first of its kind in the country. Denbighshire similarly turned to SWARCO Smart Charging to develop a fleet charging solution now being deployed at a number of different depots, as well as extending a charging hub for local taxis.
In Cardiff, SWARCO Smart Charging has been providing further e-Taxi charging as well as on-street charging at 31 selected sites across 10 local authorities, while in Flintshire, we are providing 17 charge points at nine locations across the county. We are also working with Gwynedd, Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil and Neath Port Talbot in helping them deliver on their EV charging ambitions, as well as installing charge points within the Snowdonia National Park.
SWARCO Smart Charging has been chosen for these projects because of our track record. We now have more than 7,500 charging stations installed across the UK and, through our international divisions, across Europe. And we have also been chosen for our commitment to investing for the long term, and for our publicly-stated commitment to supporting the people of Wales.
The technology we have developed, for example, includes bi-lingual hardware and software, with the supporting signage required to support an improved customer journey. As we did in Scotland, by employing local people to serve local communities, we are committed to recruiting local engineers and supporting local employment.
The Welsh Government in its strategy paper makes it clear that delivering its aims will require significant levels of investment. It estimates it will need as many as 30,000 – 55,000 fast chargers to be available in Wales by 2030, and a further 4,000 rapid chargers. SWARCO Smart Charging has proven experience of both.
When it’s the public purse that is at risk, investing in partners with the mindset of sharing investment, and sharing both risk and reward, seems like a smart decision to make.
For more information visit www.swarco.com/solutions/smart-charging
Anne Buckingham is Sales Director for SWARCO Smart Charging
