The electric-vehicle industry has experienced growth over the past 12 months, as EV adoption rates are up year over year despite headwinds, including a lack of EV charging infrastructure and at-home charging options. Automotive manufacturers are being presented with growth opportunities as the Biden administration looks to bolster EV production with programs that support factory development and workforce hiring.
However, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates, only 7.6% of new U.S. vehicle sales in 2023 were EVs. These statistics represent a challenge and an opportunity for all stakeholders—the auto industry, local and federal governments, and power supply manufacturers—to work together to achieve the Biden administration’s goal of making 50% of new vehicle sales in the U.S. electric by 2030.
With less than six years to meet this goal, the auto industry must address consumer concerns that may prevent them from purchasing EVs.
To drive EV adoption, the auto industry needs to improve and expand the charging infrastructure, deliver longer travel ranges per charge and develop dynamic charging technologies. (Source: Kindel Media, Pexels)
Addressing the challenges holding back EV expansion
From the beginning, a series of challenges have given pause to potential EV owners when making vehicle purchases. In their initial rollout, EV batteries were a concern given their cost and charging times, along with range anxiety due to the limited ranges that earlier EVs had. Then there were concerns associated with the safety of EVs, followed by apprehensions about the interoperability of chargers with vehicles. However, now that these challenges have been largely addressed, the newest concern is the availability of charging infrastructure.
With a lack of EV charging infrastructure deployed in the U.S., obstacles range from limited travel ranges and the availability of charging stations to the time required to charge EVs and, in many cases, the lack of access to home charging options. Establishing greater access to next-generation EV chargers with highly reliable, high-capacity power supplies at their core is critical to reducing charging station downtime. The future success and sustainability of the EV market also hinges on developing standardized charging solutions that are both efficient and cost-effective.
Greater access to EV charging infrastructure
Consumers’ overarching apprehension over the switch to EVs may come from the lack of charging infrastructure in place to manage the expanding demand. Recent findings revealed that the availability of chargers is one of the top concerns slowing the adoption of EVs. As the industry looks to grow, it must be prepared to support the needs of all potential EV owners, including those in rural areas and those looking to use their vehicles for extended travel lengths, requiring a buildout of power and charging infrastructure.
Establishing a power topology that meets current and future demand requires a nuanced approach, beginning at the grid level. This approach must account for the frequency, volume and kinds of EVs that will utilize the new charging locations. It will take the collaborative efforts of local utilities and power engineers, along with the support of the entire EV industry, to ensure the local grid can maintain the ebbs and flows of a charging station’s power needs.
Deploying charging stations where established power infrastructure is in place can help mitigate the creation of any grid challenges and overloads. This, however, is not always possible.
Ushering in next-generation EV chargers
As consumers demand more from their EV charging options, they are placing importance on improving charge time and travel range. While the time and power limitations of traditional alternating current (AC) charging solutions may be satisfactory for at-home use, EV hubs require faster options that can support the number of vehicles they service and cut down on customer wait times.
One way to solve this is by implementing direct current (DC) fast-charging solutions that can provide a full charge within minutes. DC fast chargers convert commercial AC power to efficient, higher-voltage DC power, helping to reduce power losses that can occur when converting the AC power to DC onboard the vehicle instead of at the charger.
Consumers are also often focused on the reliability and efficiency of EV chargers. The national goal of achieving 97% charging network uptime presents an opportunity to drive improvements in this area. By addressing issues such as charger damage and network or communication issues, the overall reliability and efficiency of the charging experience can be enhanced. Efforts to improve the reliability of EV chargers are already underway, with recent government funding of $100 million allocated to improve charger and network uptime.
Overall, standardizing industry practices is crucial for advancing EV adoption. This includes interoperability, charging-related communication and replacement parts. For example, DC chargers can utilize various charging ports dependent on the region of the charging station, leading to interoperability issues for EV owners. Manufacturers are already looking to solve this interoperability challenge by adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug as a universal option.
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Increasing access to at-home charging options
While some EV owners have found their at-home charging solutions are adequate to support their day-to-day use, others are left to rely on the current charging infrastructure in their area. Meeting the goals set for EVs will require improved power distribution and charging solutions that can expand access to different property types and homes without access to efficient and reliable charging options.
Dense population centers with multistory residential buildings, such as in cities, present an opportunity to drive EV adoption due to the focus on clean air and the attractiveness of EV efficiency compared with gasoline engines. For multi-unit buildings or apartment complexes, DC fast chargers can prove key, given their ability to allow multiple residents to charge their vehicles at one charging station throughout the day.
Replacing Level 2 chargers with compact DC chargers is an alternative solution being considered for newly constructed multi-unit structures. The buildout of power and charging infrastructure for these consumers will be essential in supporting the adoption of EVs.
Driving the next evolution of EV charging
Beyond the market for personal use, EVs are increasingly being utilized in a range of commercial sectors due to their environmental benefits and operating costs. These include their use in delivery fleets and public transportation, as well as construction and maintenance vehicles. Commercial growth within the EV sector is also pioneering the next generation of charging solutions with the development of dynamic charging.
Dynamic charging allows EVs to be charged while in motion, utilizing smart roads built with wireless inductive charging coils that allow vehicles to be charged on the go. Commercial vehicles have emerged as the primary use case for this technology, as they operate for extended periods of time on predetermined routes. However, we can expect to see this technology expand to widespread use for personal applications as EV popularity grows.
By powering vehicles such as buses and trucks using charging pads embedded along a stretch of roadway, dynamic charging represents an innovative approach to extend the capabilities of EVs and help resolve potential drawbacks of stationary charging systems.
What’s next in achieving the full potential of EVs
EVs will play a critical role in the transition to more efficient transportation for individuals, mass-transit systems, manufacturing operations and the worldwide distribution of goods. To achieve this, there will be a need for additional government support and subsidy programs to increase consumer uptake of EVs by driving progress on charging networks and the development of charging solutions for all-electric vehicle classes.
By improving and expanding charging infrastructure, increasing travel ranges per charge and developing dynamic charging technologies, the road to an EV-led future is attainable.
About the author
Gopal Mitra is the industrial segment leader at OmniOn Power, which designs, develops and manufactures reliable, high-quality power solutions for mission-critical applications. He works closely with customers to understand and help address their toughest power challenges in applications such as EV charging, robotics and lasers.
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