May 7, 2022
Mitigating climate change is the need of the hour. Numerous conferences and global leaders have discussed the issue in detail and yet, there seems to be a lag in implementing actionable solutions. Making a difference in climate change requires the cooperation of the most powerful people in the world, but even making small changes can help the cause.
One such popular attempt is seen in the popularity of electric vehicles. Compared to conventional vehicles, these vehicles are highly sustainable and energy-efficient. Even though the popularity of electric vehicles is on the rise, not enough people are putting aside their conventional vehicles for this alternate option.
There are several reasons behind the gap seen in the popularity and practicality of electric vehicles. Resolving these issues is one of the biggest aims of GlobalBSG with the 2nd Annual Charging Infrastructure Conference.
Leading Issues in Ideal Charging Infrastructure
Despite the popularity of electric vehicles, one of the major reasons holding back the large-scale use of these vehicles is the huge primary investment needed. Most people interested in owning and using an electric vehicle find the costs of acquiring and maintaining one heavy on their wallets. Apart from this, charging facilities, range anxiety, and traffic conditions also influence consumer decision-making.
Location of Charging Facilities
So far, most electric vehicle owners have the advantage of charging their cars at home. This situation is not favourable to those who live in multi-family arrangements. So, city planners need to find a way to install electric vehicle charging stations to promote the use of green vehicles.
However, another dilemma to resolve at this juncture is to decide the number and location of inter-city and intra-city charging stations. By favouring inter-city charging stations, more electric vehicle owners can finally get over their range anxiety and use these vehicles for longer trips. On the other hand, installing more intra-city charging stations will encourage the citizens to switch over from gasoline-powered modes of transport.
In the same breath, the charging stations should be at the optimum distance from one another and should be able to accommodate the heavy vehicles that are switching to greener fuels. Regulatory bodies and infrastructure planners need to resolve such issues concerning the specific region.
Charging Behaviour of the Users
The charging behaviour of the users needs to be studied extensively before deciding the optimal locations for charging stations. Some users rely on longer periods of charging at home before taking out their vehicles whereas others resort to plugging their vehicles in only when the charge is low.
Taking all these habits into consideration, planners need to be accommodating to avoid accidents and unprecedented traffic. As much as everyone’s charging habits are compatible with the city’s infrastructure, more people will find this alternate source of fuel as a safe option.
Costs of Installation
For the successful installation of electric vehicle charging stations, the planners need the cooperation of a wide range of professionals starting from energy producers and providers of billing management to grid operators and charge-point manufacturers. While this seems possible, constructing numerous charging stations can be costly and investors are only interested when there is a promise of success due to a large number of users.
This is another problem to tackle for those who are planning an ideal city using more alternative energy.
2nd Annual Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles Summit
The Charging Infrastructure Conference by GlobalBSG is the right platform to raise issues of this nature. With experts from various fields like e-mobility, battery manufacturing, and clean technology in attendance, there is no better place to find the best solutions for ideal charging infrastructure planning.
Final Thoughts
Switching to greener and cleaner fuels is one of the best ways to combat the alarming issue of climate change. The availability of more charging stations and better electric vehicles can overcome the reluctance that most people show when it comes to leaving their petrol- and diesel-fueled vehicles behind.
