Energy UK – the trade association for the Big Six and growing number of independent – energy providers – is to launch a new industry-forum for re-charging battery-powered vehicles (BPVs) next month.
The BPV forum will explore ways to ensure that electric vehicles are integrated into the energy system in a way which enables continued innovation and growth at the same time as being centred round customer needs.
Earlier this year Energy UK launched a consultation on smart charging standards – something that will be crucial to managing demand on the grid through customer choice.
Energy UK already sits on the Government’s EV Energy Taskforce and the work of the new BPV Forum will feed into their wider efforts to decarbonise of transport.
Tom Pakenham, BPV director at OVO Energy and Chairman of the new Energy UK forum on BPV charging, said: “The shift to electric vehicles will result in massive changes not only to the UK’s transportation landscape, but to our energy infrastructure as well.
“These changes will affect stakeholders across multiple industries, all of whose voices need to be heard as the system of the future emerges.”
Lawrence Slade, Energy UK chief executive, added: “BPVs have enormous and widespread potential from tackling emissions and air pollution to their transformative effect on the energy system itself – as well as the economic benefits of being a world leader in the technology involved.
“However, in order to maximise this potential a wide ranging and co-ordinated approach across all the different sectors and authorities involved is required.
“As the performance and cost of BPVs improve, it will be vital that the necessary infrastructure, like the expansion of charging points, keeps pace with consumer demand.
“This forum is the latest evidence that as the energy industry we are doing all we can to bring people together and drive the electric car roll-out forward.”
The first meeting of the BPV charging forum will be held on Monday 10 September 2018.
For more information: contact: Joseph.Cosier@Energy-UK.org.uk
31 Jul 2018
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