How is the growing EV market changing infrastructure demands?
Internal combustion engines are predicted to decline in growth, with battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid EVs, and fuel cell EVs estimated to overtake them. But as fuel is replaced with electricity, how will all the electricity be transported?
There is an enormous challenge of production and distribution with this increase in electricity demand. In 2019, IDTechEx reports that a 23,000 trillion watt-hour equivalent of oil was consumed by road transportation, meaning an equivalent amount of energy must be sourced and transported to meet the same requirements.
While solar is a fast-growing energy source, and wind on and offshore can rapidly generate renewable energy, the resources needed for wide electricity distribution are not available, as current grid infrastructure is mostly built around centralized coal-fired power plants and is struggling to adapt to the needs of electric vehicles.
Off-grid charging is becoming necessary where the electrification of transport is creating a need for charging infrastructure to keep up with passenger car usage, applications within rural areas, and commercial and industry settings such as large mining or construction sites. There is increased pressure on local grid access, as it takes time and money to achieve the grid expansions needed to keep up with growing electrification and demand for these charging sites.
Off-grid methods and approaches
Solar canopy chargers, Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) generation methods, and hydrogen fuel cell charging are three possible approaches to off-grid charging. They could help take the weight off a constrained grid, and each comes with benefits and challenges.
Overhead solar power canopies can be set up relatively quickly and with ease and can be used to power up batteries that have an EV charging outlet. This method of off-grid charging can provide free energy use and could be a great source of extra power on the go. Solar canopy chargers, however, might face challenges of limited geographical applicability, lower charging rates, and decreased reliability in areas with reduced sunlight or at nighttime. The costs of installations may outweigh the benefits in some cases, as despite being simple, they still require some expensive equipment. AWE generation methods provide an approach that is scalable and renewable, although it can also be expensive to deploy and is still in the earlier stages of development.
Hydrogen fuel cell or generator charging can provide high charging rates and good consistency with sufficient hydrogen supply. Although this approach requires green hydrogen to be considered a 'green' technology, it has the potential to reach net zero and be a fantastic opportunity for off-grid charging. With its ability to be temporary without requiring permanent installations, fuel cell charging could be used for a number of applications such as for public highways, on construction sites for high-powered vehicles requiring fast charging, and for fleets that need a grid connection boost.
A good hydrogen supply could provide energy security as a backup option or be a main source of electricity temporarily. However, fuel cell charging may also mean a slightly lower energy efficiency, and costs can still be a challenge, as acquiring green hydrogen at a reasonable price could prove to be complicated. High initial expenses when deploying this charging approach should also be considered.
IDTechEx Forecasts
The main purpose for off-grid charging, as explored by IDTechEx, is to accommodate the growing EV market alongside limited electricity infrastructure, providing solutions for charging while the grid is being expanded. Over the last ten years, global infrastructure investments have been consistent, but new investments will be necessary for the EV market going forward, to deal with challenges surrounding costs and making the implementations of new techniques viable. IDTechEx expects the total off-grid charging market to reach over $16 billion by 2034, with their report, “Off-Grid Charging For Electric Vehicles 2024-2034: Technologies, Benchmarking, Players and Forecasts”, covering predictions for key regions, end- use sectors, and market value up to 2034.
