Insight Report: Electric Vehicles
Overview
Changing electricity demand, the electrification of the transport and heating sectors, and the increase in distributed renewable energy sources all present challenges to distribution networks. The Customer-Led Network Revolution project aims to improve our understanding of current and future electricity use patterns of domestic and commercial customers. Data was collected from customers divided into different ‘test cells’ or samples, each with a particular combination of metering type, electricity tariff structure and/or low carbon technology.
This report describes a CLNR trial examining electric vehicles (EV) usage patterns and network loads arising from EV use. The trial involved domestic customers who owned an electric vehicle and had access to a home charger. Household electricity loads and EV charging loads were monitored in 143 homes. Quantitative consumption data was supported by an online survey (83 respondents) and face to face interviews (13 respondents) with participants enrolled in the CLNR project. This project provides the largest socio-technical study of domestic EV charging in the UK, sitting alongside other studies such as those supported by Office for Low Emissions Vehicles (OLEV), Ofgem, and Technology Strategy Board (TSB).
The aims of this research are to study a group of plug-in electric vehicle (EV) drivers over a period of time to understand their EV charging patterns, their charger demand, and their basic household electrical demand profile. An important aspect of this trial is that all of the participants have a domestic charge point installed at their home, and the permanent use of their electric vehicle (either on lease, bought, or as a company car). This enables the study and quantification of domestic properties with plug-in electric vehicles, in order to understand and appreciate the loading these properties place on the distribution network, and whether this loading is likely to introduce serious constraints now, or in future
