Grid connection issues

The BVRLA has told ministers that time is running out if it wants to prevent electrical grid connection issues holding back the transition to zero emission road transport.

The message was delivered in a ‘Connections’ workshop hosted earlier this week by Transport Minister Rachael Maclean and Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng, which brought together more than 30 stakeholders from the energy, fleet and charge point sectors. 

Policymakers used the event to preview a new web portal that will provide a central source of advice and guidance for commercial energy customers that are considering their electric vehicle charging options. Managed by Go Ultra Low, it is hoped that the site will be up and running by the end of the year and will pull together standardised information on which grid network operators serve which areas and how the connection process works if an upgrade is required. 

In addition, the Energy Networks Association, which represents network operators, said it would be producing a National Energy Systems map in the first quarter of 2021, which will show what grid capacity is available across the country. 

“It is great to see that energy companies and government officials are prioritising the issue of EV charging grid connections and the costs, confusion and timescales that fleets are having to deal with,” said BVRLA Director of Corporate Affairs, Toby Poston, who participated in the meeting. 

“We told participants that time is short, and these issues need to be addressed now so that fleets can meet the ambitious decarbonisation deadlines that are being set.” 

If you would like to help the BVRLA with its work on fleet decarbonisation, you can sign-up for our Electric Vehicles Working Group. To do this or find out more, get in touch with BVRLA Senior Policy Advisor, Catherine Bowen.