IET: Professor Roger Kemp FREng FIET comments on government Plug-In Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy
Last year the Royal Academy of Engineering carried out a major study into the implications of large-scale rollout of electric vehicles. This identified important infrastructure challenges that will have to be overcome before a widespread market for plug-in cars can develop.
Both the Academy and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) are pleased that the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) has taken action to address these issues in the release of their plug-in vehicles infrastructure strategy, published today (30 June).
A Fellow of both the Academy and IET, Professor Roger Kemp of Lancaster University, said:
“The side of electric vehicle development most often in the public eye is the launch of new hi-tech vehicles at motor shows, but ensuring a hassle-free adoption of thousands and eventually millions of plug-in cars will require concerted effort on much less spectacular developments. These will include creating UK standard plug and sockets, smartcards and billing arrangements and reducing the bureaucracy needed to install charging points in car parks. The strategy document by OLEV addresses these mundane but essential issues.
“The strategy to encourage charging at home during the night is entirely consistent with the campaign to reduce carbon emissions and, by providing additional night time load on the grid, will make it more attractive to invest in renewable energy technologies.
“The commitment to ensure that the smart metering systems soon to be rolled out include the functionality to support smart charging of plug-in vehicles is good news as it will be an important enabler for the widespread adoption of electric cars.”
For more information, contact:
Robert Beahan, Press Officer, IET
01438 767336 / rbeahan@theiet.org
Jane Sutton, Communications Manager, Royal Academy of Engineering
0207 766 0636 / jane.sutton@raeng.org.uk
Ed Holmes, Press Officer, Royal Academy of Engineering
0207 766 0655 / ed.holmes@raeng.org.uk
Download a copy of the Academy’s report, Electric Vehicles: charged with potential
Read more about the IET’s new Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation
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Notes for Editors
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
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The Royal Academy of Engineering
Founded in 1976, The Royal Academy of Engineering promotes the engineering and technological welfare of the country. Our fellowship – comprising the UK’s most eminent engineers – provides the leadership and expertise for our activities, which focus on the relationships between engineering, technology, and the quality of life. As a national academy, we provide independent and impartial advice to Government; work to secure the next generation of engineers; and provide a voice for Britain’s engineering community.
www.raeng.org.uk
Roger Kemp FREng FIET
Roger Kemp is a professorial fellow at Lancaster University. He runs the postgraduate programmes in Safety Engineering and, with LEC, Energy and the Environment. He is particularly concerned with energy use in transport and contributed to the Department for Transport white paper on sustainable transport. His research interests include the safety regulation of the nuclear industry as well as energy use and safety regulation of transport systems. He is on the Engineering Policy Committee of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the IET’s Energy Policy Panel. He has provided advice for government departments and has been an invited speaker at many conferences on energy use and is an Associate of the Cambridge Electricity Policy Research Group (EPRG).
www.engineering.lancs.ac.uk
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