A new short animated film has been launched promoting new research which aims to solve the problem of available grid capacity for electric vehicles (EV) as demand increases.
Dr Erica Ballantyne, Senior Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management, at the University of Sheffield’s Management School, is part of FEVER (Future Electric Vehicle Energy Networks supporting Renewables), a research team which aims to develop EV charging hubs that deliver off-grid renewable electricity generated from onsite solar and wind technology.
The short animated film explains the FEVER solution for transforming electrification of transport within the context of increased demand for energy supply from the National Grid, installation of a nation-wide charging infrastructure and uncertainties surrounding EV adoption.
Dr Erica Ballantyne, said: "With the Government announcement that all new vehicles sold in the UK must be electric or hybrid from 2030, the number of electric cars on our roads is expected to surge. Developing a sustainable EV charging infrastructure will be vital if we are to successfully manage these coming changes. Our research aims to develop and demonstrate a fully grid independent, cost-effective, and socially acceptable, renewably powered electric vehicle charging station."
"This new short film highlights the challenges we face in the UK in terms of the growing demand for EV charging and the pressure this places on our energy grid. It brings to life the important interdisciplinary research taking place within the FEVER to find solutions to these challenges."
Working towards meeting the UK government’s 2035 zero-emission pledge, and later 2050 climate goal, the FEVER project concentrates on the design, development, and demonstration of several 100% renewable-powered EV charging stations, facilitated by innovative off-vehicle energy stores (OVES).
The research team aims to create a secure, year-round, grid-independent charging solution for EVs. Moving beyond the state-of-the-art technologies, they are developing cost-effective and socially acceptable 'hybrid' OVES, that are suitable for both urban and rural use, and for individual and fleet users.
The interdisciplinary FEVER project, a Programme Grant funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), unites a diverse interdisciplinary team of academic scientists and engineers (mechanical, electronic and electrical, computer science) and social scientists (management, psychology, and economics) across four research-led UK universities: Southampton, Sheffield, Surrey and Portsmouth.
Watch the film here: https://youtu.be/fapawv5N_d0