Introduction



Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure –

Opportunities for the Software Sector

North East England 2010

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Introduction

This report seeks to provide an introduction to electric vehicles and the related logistics and infrastructure, specifically within the context of the North East region. The report will provide the starting point and source of information for a larger project to identify potential links between Sunderland University Software Hatchery and the Electric Vehicle (EV) sector. By exploring the technology requirements of EVs and the planned local infrastructure, along with case studies and examples from elsewhere, it is envisaged that opportunities can be identified for partnerships, university involvement and innovations.

Why Electric Vehicles?

The internal combustion engine, powered by petrol and diesel, has dominated the automobile industry almost since its inception [1], but contemporary issues are increasing the need for alternative and more efficient ways of powering vehicles [2]. Governments are increasingly seeing electric vehicles as an effective response to many of the difficulties presented by concerns such as the recent financial crisis, fluctuations in oil and other commodity prices, and the ongoing climate change crisis [3]. According to a study for the Department for Transport [4], widespread adoption of electric vehicles capable of a range of 50km or more could cut road transport carbon emissions in half.

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A typical electric vehicle recharging point

There are obvious benefits to ending the reliance upon finite oil-based fuels like petrol and diesel, whose prices and availability may prove increasingly volatile [5]. It is clear however that with the current infrastructure, electric vehicles will be mostly powered by fossil fuels that are used by traditional power stations [6]. For this reason it is important that the renewable energy sector grows along with the electric vehicle industry [26], and the viability of this will be explored later in the report.

Ambitious targets have been set which provide a clear and accelerating trajectory for the deployment of low carbon vehicles and adaptation of new ultra-low carbon technologies in the UK [3][Figure 1]. This enables industry to make strategic planning decisions and investments for the future. Successful organisations will be those who embrace and respond most effectively to the introduction of new low and ultra-low carbon vehicles.

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History of Electric Vehicles

The electric motor has been used to power vehicles almost since the development of electric batteries in the 1830s. By 1900, electric vehicles actually outsold all other types of cars. The decline in electric cars in the early 1900s was caused by the need for longer range vehicles, the increasing accessibility of oil-based fuels, and the advent of mass-production of the combustion engine, pioneered by Henry Ford. Electric vehicles became relatively inefficient and inadequate for 20th Century requirements, and they were almost completely forgotten between the 1930s and 1960s.

The need for alternative fuels started to become apparent in the 1960s and several companies pioneered electric vehicles largely used for commercial purposes like the utility industry and mail delivery in the USA and the milk floats that became ubiquitous in the UK. These vehicles remained relatively low powered compared to their petroleum-powered counterparts, with top speeds rarely exceeding 45mph and ranges of less than 50 miles.

By the 1990s, greater environmental awareness and government incentives encouraged major vehicle manufacturers like General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota to enter the electric vehicle sector [22,23,24,25]. They began to convert existing vehicles into electric or part-electric vehicles, and they also started to develop electric vehicles from scratch. There are many types of electric vehicle in development, defined by the extent to which they are powered by electricity:

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)

A hybrid vehicle is one that is powered by both an internal combustion engine and an electric propulsion system, a combination which provides increased fuel economy and better performance. The hybrid became widely available with the release of the Toyota Prius in Japan in 1997 [27,28], followed by the Honda Insight in 1999 [29,30]. Many manufacturers now make hybrids and they form an increasingly significant sector of the automotive market. Worldwide sales of Toyota HEVs reached 1 million by 2007, and 2 million in August 2009 [28]. The Honda Insight became the best selling car in Japan in April 2009, and US manufacturers have now made hybrid vehicles a top priority.

Many hybrid vehicles do now allow external charging (i.e. plugging into the electricity grid to recharge) as they operate in charge sustaining mode, whereby the batteries are continually charged from energy from the internal combustion engine. Many hybrid vehicles now make use of regenerative braking, which converts kinetic energy from braking into usable electric power, increasing energy efficiency. Due to the specifics of the North East of England project, the only hybrid vehicles this report covers are plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) – those which contain a combustion engine and electric propulsion, but can be charged from the national grid.

Fully Electric Vehicles (EVs)

Fully electric vehicles are those which derive all of their energy from electricity. There are various subdivisions of electric vehicles, depending on the specific electricity source, but for the purpose of this project we will concentrate on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) – those which derive all of their power from onboard batteries, and represent a fast-growing segment of the automobile industry, with particular relevance to the North East of England, as we will discuss.

One of the main advantages of fully electric vehicles is that no emissions are released directly by the car, presenting great advantages in combating urban pollution, and pollution generally as the centralised electricity production of power stations can contained and reduced much more effectively. Where electric vehicles are powered by renewable energy sources such as solar or wind plants, emissions are almost completely eliminated.

The lithium-ion batteries developed over the last few decades have enabled much more efficient and lightweight electric vehicle batteries. Nissan plans utilise the lithium-ion battery in the Nissan LEAF to be launched in 2010. It will be the first completely electric zero emission vehicle accessible to the mass consumer market, with a range of up to 100 miles and a ‘quick recharge’ capability where the battery can be charged to 80% of capacity within 30 minutes. With a top speed of around 90mph, it is calculated that the Nissan LEAF will be suitable for around 70% of all journeys made in the UK. The company said that pricing would be announced closer to the car's full launch in late 2010, but insisted that it would be "competitively priced" against cars of a similar size, meaning that it is likely to cost between £10,000 and £15,000.

The North East of England

In July 2009, it was announced that the first Low-Carbon Economic Area (LCEA) for Ultra Low-Carbon Vehicles will be located in North East England [7,8,9]. The Tyne & Wear urban area will form the core of the LCEA whilst the North East generally will form second ‘tier’ of the wider LCEA. The objective is to establish the region into a low-carbon economy by developing renewable energy [Figure 2], intelligent networks and design, with low-carbon vehicles forming a key part of the overall project [10,11,12,13]. The government is also determined to ensure that energy management is integrated with extensive digital networks, providing significant opportunities for the software sector as well as many others who will become involved in new supply chains [14]

"The North East has distinguished itself as the first specialised region for ultra-low carbon vehicles. This is good news not just for the North East, but for the whole of the UK, helping to attract foreign investment and securing UK's place as a global leader in high-tech manufacturing and automotive industries. The collaboration between local businesses, universities and colleges will create a hub of expertise to boost innovation and accelerate business growth in this important area of 'green' industry." [15]

UK Business Secretary Peter Mandelson

Through a range of initiatives and partnerships, it is envisaged that the North East of England will become the national centre and a leading global region for electric low-carbon vehicles in the UK. There is a great deal of work ahead, not least work to encourage take-up of electric vehicles, but it is hoped that a range of initiatives will form a sound base for the North East’s low carbon ambitions. The following section of the report will explore key organisations involved, and initiatives they are involved in.

Nissan and One North East

In December 2009, the regional development agency One North East signed a definitive agreement with Nissan setting out a roadmap for the development of the low carbon transport and infrastructure in the North East. The agreement will ensure attractive government incentives for consumers and businesses who use electric vehicles, including 619 free charging points around the region, offering free recharging for electric vehicles potentially until 2012 or until a working payment system is established. Education and demonstration programmes will also be developed over the next two years, in order to increase awareness and enthusiasm for electric vehicles [16].

As part of the Low Carbon Economic Area, the government intends to establish a new training centre specialising in low carbon automotive technologies, a technology park and an open access test track for low carbon vehicles [ 17]. Nissan is also investing more than £200m in building an electric car battery factory at its existing Sunderland plant, which will produce 60,000 lithium-ion batteries each year, creating up to 350 jobs [18].

Smiths Electric Vehicles (Part of the Tanfield Group)

Smiths Electric Vehicles, based in Washington Tyne & Wear, are the world’s largest manufacturer of road-going commercial electric vehicles. They have embarked on a number of partnerships to supply electric vehicles to industry, including major supermarkets (e.g. Sainsbury’s runs the world’s largest electric van fleet, provided by Smiths) Royal mail and other delivery and haulage companies, as well as to councils and local authorities. Smiths are also a leader in electric vehicle maintenance with 20 depots and 150 mobile engineers nationwide.

AVID Vehicles Ltd. (Advanced Vehicle Innovation and Development)

Avid Vehicles Ltd are an engineering company based in Cramlington, who manufacture electric and hybrid vehicles as well as providing low emissions conversions of existing vehicles. The AVID Engineering Centre has the capacity to produce small production runs of from 1 up to 1000 vehicles.

Tech/Ops Sevcon

Tech/Ops Sevcon is a manufacturer of high quality motor controllers and system components (microprocessors, etc) for battery powered vehicles. Its headquarters are in Gateshead and the company is a world leader in the industry with 50 years experience.

Cenex

Cenex is the UK’s first centre of excellent for low carbon and fuel cell technologies, supported by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills to promote development and competitiveness in low carbon and fuel cell technologies in transport applications.

The key objectives of Cenex are to:

• To map current and emerging technologies in the low carbon and fuel cell markets and identify and communicate those which may influence the future direction of the industry

• To mobilise or otherwise construct an effective UK supply chain by coordinating the activities of academia, component suppliers, assemblers, vehicle manufacturers and other intermediaries

• To be a flagship organisation for the promotion of UK activities on low carbon and fuel cell technologies and to act as the focus for projects requiring international cooperation

• To influence the creation and deployment of fleet-scale demonstrators in the UK passenger vehicle, public transport and commercial vehicle sectors

• To facilitate affordable market entry strategies for low carbon and fuel cell technologies by direct intervention with public and private sector procurement bodies.

Romag

Romag is a glass Manufacturer based in Leadgate, Co. Durham who are currently piloting photovoltaic (solar power) charging canopies that could be positioned over any parking space, to generate electricity from the sun.

Technological Maturity

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It is important to understand the stages of development where the most effective involvement can be orchestrated by various stakeholders in the electric vehicle industry. With investments secured from investors such as One North East and Government as well as private investment funds, the low-carbon economy in the North East is making vital steps towards technological maturity. Academic and research institutions like universities and the Software Hatchery should be involved in the research, development and demonstration stages of the technological cycle. Partnerships with business and investors are useful in providing commercial focus and credibility to academic involvement.

The EU Initiative

The European Union president, in discussion with a number of large car manufacturers, has announced the need for a pan-European strategy to produce a viable electric car, in order to help the EU take the lead in developing electric vehicles and infrastructure. There are particular ICT investments to be made by the EU In the following areas:

• Battery management and power supply

• Control mechanisms

• Interconnections with the transport and power infrastructures.

• Reduction of taxes for lower emission cars and for scrapping old cars

• Procurement network of regional and local authorities to pool demand for clean buses

Practicalities of the North East Low Carbon Emissions Area

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The above diagram [Figure 3], devised by the consultancy Future Transport Systems [15], shows the location of the proposed electric vehicle hub in Newcastle, with different radiuses indicating the locations where outlying charging points would be most effective. The locations of charging points are determined by a range of factors such as road type, journey type and popular commuting routes, which would need to be constantly monitored and regulated by software systems. The diagram emphasises how electric vehicles would be viable for transport within the North East region given a properly devised charging infrastructure.

Futures Study

Drivers of Change

The purpose of a futures study is to envisage potential future scenarios, so that the most effective responses can be developed for each scenario, reducing uncertainty [19,20,21]. This kind of study takes into account the main factors that drive change in the industry, and end result is that organisations are more equipped to respond quickly and effectively in uncertain conditions.

The first stage in developing future scenarios is to identify two main drivers that will impact upon the industry we are working in. For businesses working with the low-emission transport sector, the perception of low emission transport is a major factor. Perception will determine how many people and organisations are operating electric vehicles, the extent to which these people and organisations are linked up and operating in synergy.

For the ‘perception of low emission transport’ driver, two possible extreme situations are defined – namely ‘niche’, where interest in the sector remains fairly low and so investment is limited to small schemes, and ‘accessible’ where the general public take an active interest and there is a wide involvement in the sector.

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The second driver of change identified for the low-emission transport sector is Technology and Renewable Energy. The current status of technology and renewable energy at any time is very influential upon those working within the sector, so it forms the basis of the second set of extreme circumstances. The first is ‘fast changing’, where the government shows a lot of commitment to renewable energy and technology development, enforcing CO2 targets enabling a great deal of public and private activity in technology and energy advancement.

The opposite end of this spectrum is ‘complacency’ where CO2 targets become less important, perhaps due to new priorities or cost issues. In this extreme, there is a lack of research and development, with efforts to make existing technology more efficient rather than replace it. In this extreme we may find that nuclear power becomes a prominent source of energy and the internal combustion engine is still used in most new cars.

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Scenario generation

By combining the two drivers with their extremes at each end, we form four segments, each representing a different potential future scenario we may find ourselves operating within. By understanding the conditions in each of the four scenarios, we can think about the best responses and how to succeed in this scenario. The four segments are described in the following diagram:

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The top left scenario is titled slow growth and perhaps best represents the low emission transport scenario that we have in the present day. It is marked by a commitment to technology and new forms of energy, but within a small, but expanding industrial sector.

Key considerations for software enterprise in this scenario are:

• Partnerships with established organisations in the low-carbon sector

• Pool resources with other research and enterprise entities to save costs

• Widespread but dispersed and unconnected – need to develop connecting networks through software, involving different regions

The top right scenario is labelled small players and represents the lowest level of expansion in the sector. There is limited investment from the public sector, and a lack of activity in the private sector. In this scenario efforts are needed to expand awareness and enthusiasm of the low carbon economy:

• Development of software to promote the electric vehicle take-up, rather than to support existing initiatives

• Efforts needed to seek out opportunities from small private sector players and the limited government initiatives

• Need for innovative thinking that could help propel the industry into another scenario

The bottom right scenario is named efficiency and describes a situation where low emission transport is widespread, accessible and affordable, but where great efforts are not being taken to develop the technological and renewable energy infrastructure. The following issues will be prominent:

• Concentrating on fossil fuels and nuclear power and making these more efficient through software innovation

• Refinement and cost saving measures in current technologies

• City-specific infrastructures with a need to connect various regions

The final quadrant is termed mainstream, the most dynamic scenario, where joined-up thinking, consumer enthusiasm and investment in technology has created a fast-moving scenario with the low-carbon economy becoming a significant part of the wider economy. This scenario will be marked by the following:

• Large scale nationwide networks

• Need to keep up to date with advancements through involvement with small and large organisations in the sector

• Engagement between a wide range of businesses and the low emission sector, necessitating a variety of software solutions for a wide range of applications

Opportunities and Routes Forward

• Explore ergonomic, human factors, interfaces and operating systems of electric vehicles and associated infrastructure

• Innovative approaches to vehicle charging and charge monitoring

• Remote monitoring or control of electronic vehicles (i.e. from mobile phone or home computer) with notification systems

• Useful ways to collect and utilise information such as usage rates, mileage covered, geographical spread, etc

Need to Bring Together…

• Policy makers

• Manufacturers

• Electricity generators and distributors

• Technology specialists

• Research establishments

• Urban designers

• Transport planners

• The wider economy (especially fleet operators)

• The general public

References

[1] Felton, R (2001) What will the car of tomorrow be like? Future Motoring, Spring 2001, Vol. 85, No.440. Available at :



- Accessed 26/05/10.

[2] The Institution of Mechanical Engineers report, Low carbon vehicles driving the UKs transport revolution. Available at:

- Accessed 26/05/10

[3] Department for Transport Report 2009. URN 09/917. Ultra-Low Carbon Vehilces in the UK. Available at:

.uk/lowcarbon - Accessed 24/05/10

[4] BERR, Departmant for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Department for Transport, URN 08/1393. Investigation into the Scope for the Transport Sector to Switch to Electric Vehilces and Plug-in Hybrid Vehilces. October 2008. Available at

- Access 24/05/10

[5] CRS Report for Congress order Code RL 30758. Alternative transportation Fuels and vehicles; Energy, Environment, and Development Issues (Updated January 7, 2005). Brent D. Yacobucci Specialist in Eneregy Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division. Congressional Research Service, The Library of Congress. Available at

- Accessed 26/05/10

[6] CNS News Report Thursday, June 25 2009. Electric Cars Will Not Decrease Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Says Federal Study. Available at:

- Accessed 26/05/10

[7] One North East (Sept, 2009), North East England: Leading the way in low-carbon vehicles. Report no.899. Available at (final).pdf?CFID=10274492&CFTOKEN=96266439 - Accessed 19/05/10

[8] Invest North East England. Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles Overview. Available at - Accessed 20/05/10

[9] IBTimes (18th March 2010) Available at:

- Accessed 19/05/10

[10] Innovation UK News Vol5-2 (6/10/09) Welcome to North East England. Available at

- Accessed 20/05/10

[11] One North East News Article (25th Nov 2009) Available at:

- Accessed 20/05/10

[12] NAREC Available at:

- Accessed 20/05/10

[13] One North East Report 905 (October 2009). Digital North East boosting the digital sectors and their impact on the regions economy. Available at

(10.11.09).pdf?CFID=10356394&CFTOKEN=65202065 – Accessed 24/05/10

[14] Technology Strategy Board Driving Innovation Available at

- Accessed 24/05/10

[15] Green Wise. The Bottom Line For Business (20th July, 2009). Available at

- Accessed 21/05/10

[16] One North East, News Article, (18th Dec 2009) Available at:

– Accessed 20/05/10

[17] Green Cars Congress. Energy, Technologies, Issues & Policies for Sustainable Mobility (19th Dec 2009), One North East and Nissan sign definitive agreement on EV roll out; 619 free charging points by 2011 in North East England, support for 3kW, 7kW and 50kW chargers. - Accessed 20/05/10

[18] North of England Inward Investment Agency (21st July 2009), Nissan Electric Vehicles Battery Plant in North East England. Available at

- Accessed 20/05/10

[19] Wikipedia, Futurology. Available at

- Accessed 25/05/10

[20] Coates, J (May-June 2003), Why Study the Future? Available at

- Accessed 24/05/10

[21] Wyman (2009). Oliver Wyman Study E Mobility 2025. Power play with electric cars.

- Accessed 24/05/10

[22] Lave, L. B., Hendrickson & McMichael, F. C. (1995) Environmental Impact of Electric Cars. Science, May 1995, Vol. 268, pp. 993-995.

[23] Mortimer M. D. (1991) Energy Analysis of Renewable Energy Sources. Energy Policy, May 1991, Vol. 19, Issue 4, pp. 374-385.

[24] Climate Change: The 1990 and 1992 IPCC Assessments Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 1992

- Accessed 1/06/10

[25] Dunckley (1993) Electric vehicles – are they a realistic option for the future? Journal of Power Sources, January 1993, Vol. 42, Issues 1-2, pp. 291-295

[26] Electric Vehicles: Charged with Potential (2010) Royal Academy of Engineering, The. Available at:

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[27] Prius No. 1 in Japan sales as green interest grows (2010) USA Today, Associated press. Available at:

- Accessed 1/06/10

[28] Toyota Global Hybrid Sales Top Two Million Mark (2009) Kelly Blue Book Green. Available at:

- Accessed 1/06/10

[29] Honda’s Cumulative World-wide Hybrid Sales Pass 300,000 In January 2009 (2009) Green Car Congress. Available at:

- Accessed 1/06/10

[30] Sales of Honda Insight hybrid top 100,000 units since February 2009 (2010) Zacks Investment Research. Available at:

- Accessed 1/06/10

[31] Hybrid Car Market Forcast to 2012 (2009) RNCOS E-Services PVT. Ltd. Available at:

- Accessed 1/06/10

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Detroit Electric Advertisement (1912)

The Toyota Prius

The Nissan LEAF, proposed for launch in 2010

Figure 2: The North East Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA)[7]

Nissan / One North East agreement, December 2009

Sainsburys’ electric fleet is provided by Smiths

Photovoltaic glass canopies can generate electricity

Figure 3: Strategic Electric Vehicle Infrastructure planning map for the North East.

(supplied by Future Transport Systems)[15]

Figure 1: High level technology roadmap for the UK’s decarbonisation of road transport [3]

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