FINANCIAL TIMES: POWERING A TRANSITION TO MASS ELECTRIFICATION WITH EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming a more attractive choice for consumers as improved affordability, range, and battery life contribute to greater EV efficiency and reliability. But still, EV charging infrastructure remains a substantial bottleneck impeding the adoption of EVs and their ability to reach their true potential. Consumers simply expect the same level of convenience and ubiquity of EV charging networks as is provided by traditional gas stations.

But widespread availability is not the only solution—EV charging infrastructure needs to be smart and should be based on a deep understanding of how consumers interact with the grid. Equally important is a commitment to optimizing grid capacity as the number of EVs on the roads increase. Mainstream transition to vehicle-to-grid systems can be a viable solution toward converting EVs as nodes in the electricity grid, judiciously sinking and sourcing power. This requires a better understanding of the battery lifecycle and of each individual cell in the pack, as only through better analytics and insights can a robust battery reuse and recycle program be developed that sustains a circular economy for the battery.

Explore these conversations below in which stakeholders within the electrification ecosystem detail their perspectives on solving the challenges facing the grid and charging infrastructure.

Featured Participants:

• Patrick Morgan, Corporate VP Automotive, Analog Devices
• Emma Loxton, Partner, McKinsey & Company
• Andy Palmer, Vice Chairman and CEO, Switch Mobility
• Tobias Scharfen, Chief Sales Officer, has·to·be
• Peter Campbell, Global Motor Industry Correspondent, Financial Times

Featured Video Segments:

• Improving Charging Infrastructure to Accelerate EV Uptake
• Enabling Transition to a Vehicle-to-Grid System
• A Holistic View on Battery Lifecycle

The concept of bringing idle electric energy out of car batteries and back to the grid has the potential to solve the grid capacity issue. The vehicle-to-grid concept is already here, but a mainstream adoption requires advanced data analytics and a forward-thinking approach.