By Adam Hall, director of energy services at Drax Electric Vehicles 

There’s been a lot of talk about smart charging for electric vehicles recently. But why do we need it, what exactly is it, and how does it work? Whether you’re a seasoned EV driver or someone simply curious about the electric future, understanding smart charging is key to unlocking the full potential of this sustainable technology.

Why do we need smart charging?

EV charging in the UK uses a large amount of electricity. And it’s poised to use even more. As we decarbonise the transport sector, the number of EVs on our roads is predicted to grow at a huge rate. That means the demand for the extra power they need will rise. This could put a strain on our utility providers’ ability to provide the electricity we all need when it’s needed.

National Grid ESO, the system operator for the electric grid, estimates that up to 37.4 million EVs will be on the UK’s roads by 2050. That’s a massive increase on the number today – currently 850,000 EVs and just over half a million plug-in hybrids.

Where does smart charging come into the picture? 

Smart charging is a flexible model for charging EVs that aims to shift electricity consumption away from utility providers’ periods of peak demand.

This matters because, with the rise of intermittent renewable generation such as solar PV and wind turbines, it’s no longer possible to increase the electricity supply to meet rising demand. Solar can only generate power when the sun shines, and wind turbines only work when the wind blows.

Instead, now we must try to match demand with supply. That’s the reason why smart charging attempts to balance efficient grid usage with your charging needs.

How does it work?

For an EV charge point to be considered ‘smart’, it must be connected to a back office. That back office must be able to receive data from the charge point. It also must have the ability to control it remotely.

Who controls smart charging charge points?

Currently, there are two types of control in general for smart charging: user-controlled and supplier-managed.

User-controlled smart charging

• Individuals are incentivised to charge their EVs at particular times by using tariffs. These usually involve offering cheaper power tariffs outside of peak hours. This in itself has the potential to create issues around electricity demand management if sufficient EV users decide to shift their charging to the same time.
• Those cheaper power tariffs could really make a difference. The Government believes that smarter charging could save an average driver up to £200 and a high mileage driver up to £1000 a year. By helping to balance power generation and use, it could also reduce your electricity bills.

Supplier-managed smart charging solutions

• With supplier-managed smart charging, the back office controls the charge point. This can extend to full optimisation of electricity use if needed – so charging might only begin at times when there is a lot of cheap renewable power available, for instance. This could be less attractive from a personal point of view, as you’ll effectively lose control of when your EV is charged.
• However, if your organisation has a fleet of EVs that are charged using smart charge points at your workplaces then it could be more attractive for you. For instance, by giving control of charging times to the back office, you could reduce your energy costs and carbon emissions by charging only when on-site wind turbines or solar PVs are generating.

What regulations govern smart charging?

The latest smart charging regulations in place now allow the back office to control the charging infrastructure. However, you still have the freedom and option to override those controls at this point.

The Government also recently passed the laws around Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 which are set to improve EV drivers’ charging experience as the industry enters the crucial mass adoption phase. These include improved payment methods and a 99% reliable public rapid charging network. More details of the regulations and their implications for fleets are in our guide here.