Last night on ITV News at 10, Science Correspondent Martin Stew investigated the impact of the cold weather on EV range, which has directly correlated with a sharp rise in the number of EV drivers running out of charge before reaching a static charging station.
“Batteries don’t like extremes of temperatures… Turn the thermostat up, and the battery power drops quickly.”
Martin Stew, Science Correspondent.
By reviewing the performance analysis of electric vehicles in freezing temperatures, ITV News reported that heating the car meant that EV drivers used 39% more battery power in the first hour compared to normal conditions. On average, EV drivers can expect 18% fewer miles on a full battery in winter than in warmer temperatures.
The reduced EV range has meant some drivers have run out of charge faster than they anticipated, which has meant the RAC has experienced an increase in the number of callouts from EV drivers:
“The RAC is fitting special charging units to many of their breakdown vans. 6% of callouts to EVs are because they have run out of power – a far higher percentage than petrol or diesel vehicles.”
Martin Stew, Science Correspondent.
As explained by the RAC’s Technical Development Manager, Chris Millward, when an internal combustion vehicle breaks down, patrols or drivers can quickly put it into neutral and move it to the side of the road. When an electric vehicle runs flat, the patrol can’t move it, complicating recovery. The only way to unlock the vehicle’s handbrake is to give the EV a power boost. Therefore, from a roadside recovery perspective, having a shoe-box-sized charger on the recovery vehicle is the perfect solution for dealing with an out-of-charge EV. As shown on News at 10, by having Original ADS’ Charge Pod system installed on many of their patrol vehicles, the RAC is well-prepared to assist EV drivers if they run out of charge before they can reach a charging station.
EV Livewas back for another year at Blenheim Palace last weekend, showcasing some of the latest electric vehicles and offering experiences, education and entertainment focused on EVs and sustainable living.
Electric vehicles are now an everyday sight on roads in the UK, making it crucial that those who have or will be switching to EVs –whether for commercial or personal use– are supported now and in the future. We are proud to be among the companies working hard to provide solutions for those who have made this switch. Our Charge Pod and Genset products reflect these efforts. Blenheim Palace was the perfect opportunity to speak to other companies to discuss our development plans and see the positive impact of our products on the organisations we work with.
We were delighted to see our partners, the RAC, display their ability to support electric vehicle drivers at the event. A fundamental aspect of the RAC’s strategy for EV drivers is the implementation of Charge Pod into their fleet. Charge Pod has provided RAC vans with the ability to provide an emergency power boost to flat or severely charge-depleted electric vehicles that cannot reach a static charging station. We were pleased to see the positive reception the RAC received from the general public about our innovative solution to this problem.
Original ADS currently has development plans for a revolutionary portable power unit that will transform mobile power generation. Genset will be a fully portable power pack capable of providing an initial 7.5kW from a unit which weighs just 50kg. This groundbreaking development will therefore be lighter and more power dense than anything else on the market. Continually discussing this project with a range of organisations places us in a strong position to ensure we are meeting the new and emerging demands in the market.
The Emergency Fleet Exhibition and the National Association of Police Fleet Managers’ conference held its 49th event this week at the International Centre in Telford, Shropshire. The conference is one of Europe’s largest emergency service fleet events, with a global reputation for exhibition excellence. This year was no exception, with the show bringing together the latest transport solutions for the emergency services, local authorities and government departments.
Original ADS are developing an array of products which enhance the capabilities of fleet vehicles. For example, the Original ADS Genset is an ultra-lightweight and compact portable power unit capable of delivering 7.5kW of power from a unit that weighs just 50kg. This highly efficient unit is more compact, lightweight and power dense than anything currently on the market. It has a broad spectrum of applications. For instance, it can generate power for crisis response teams, the sports and leisure industry, domestic power, military and defence and electric vehicle charging. Genset has the power (pun intended) to transform mobile power generation for those needing lightweight, portable power. As this product is still in the development stages, it was great for our team to have the opportunity to discuss different applications and needs for the product so we can optimise the design for each application.
The Road Transport Expo was back at NAEC Stoneleigh for its second year running this week, bringing together fleet operators, industry experts, suppliers and manufacturers. There was a strong emphasis on green technology, and it was great to see the vital steps that the transport industry is taking to support and adopt greener transportation methods. Switching to alternatively fuelled vehicles is particularly challenging but essential for fleet operators whose efforts have the power to minimise the impact of climate change on our planet greatly. Original ADS are proud to be amongst those organisations supporting those wanting to switch to electric with pioneering solutions that can provide a backup for electric vehicles that may run out of charge before reaching a static charging point.
It is no secret that range anxiety is one of the biggest obstacles hindering fleets’ ability to switch to EVs. For example, according to a Monthly Market Intelligence report published by Auto Trader in April this year, 49% of those unwilling to consider an electric light commercial vehicle (LCV) have range anxiety concerns. Thereby making vehicle range the most significant barrier for LCV buyers switching to electric.
Unlike any other solutions currently on the market, Original ADS’s Charge Pod and Genset can provide on-demand and continuous power without recharging it– as you would with a portable battery. Powered by a purpose-built ultra-lightweight and compact 10kW generator, these solutions are lighter and more power dense than any else currently on the market – essential attributes for fleets where space and payload cannot be compromised. We are delighted to report that Business Journalist Lucy Tunnicliffe and International Business Development Manager Betsi Fuenmayor had extremely positive responses about the solutions and were very excited to be part of a fantastic event.
The Fully Charged live show is the world’s number one clean energy and electric vehicle show which returned to Farnborough on Friday 28th April through to Sunday 1st May. This three-day event showcased a host of quality outdoor exhibits and attractions including live theatres with speakers from across the industry, over 100 electrified vehicles, thousands of electric car test drives, and over 200 exhibitors showcasing the latest clean and electric vehicle related technologies.
Amongst those 200+ exhibitors were the RAC, who were displaying all of their electric capabilities. For example, the Renault Zoe e-tech van represents Britain’s first all-electric breakdown van. Also on display was the UK’s second all-electric patrol vehicle, the Maxus e-deliver. Excitingly, the Maxus will be attending to breakdowns at the roadside in the very near future.
People attending the Fully Charged event were extremely impressed with the steps the RAC are taking to reduce their environmental impact, but they were also interested to learn more about the support the RAC offer to electric vehicle drivers and why it surpasses alternatives available on the market.
Considering the problems with the charging infrastructure, people are concerned about the possibility of running out of charge before they are able to reach a static charging station. Fortunately, the RAC have anticipated this problem and have installed the pioneering Charge Pod system onto their patrol vehicles. Charge Pod is a lightweight and compact EV charging system, designed to provide a quick power boost to a flat or severely charge depleted electric vehicle, so it can be driven to the nearest suitable charging point.
As highlighted by the countless awards proudly displayed by the RAC at Fully Charged, Charge Pod is notorious for being the best possible solution to the problem of out-of-charge EVs. Charge Pod’s awards portfolio includes the country’s most prestigious engineering and technology awards right through to outstanding application of this remarkable technology within the fleet sector.
It is great to see industry leading companies like the RAC doing all they can to reduce the environmental impact of their own fleet, as well as adopting the best technology to support the uptake of electric vehicles by enhancing the capability of its fleet.
“From an emergency top-up to a complete roadside rescue, the RAC seems to have all basis covered should my car run out of charge.” – Alexis Conran, TV presenter (Channel 5, Should I Buy an Electric Car?’).
On Channel 5’s ‘Should I Buy an Electric Car?’, TV presenter Alexis Conran investigates the practicalities of owning and running an electric vehicle as Britain gears up to make the switch to electric. By asking crucial questions around the concerns, costs and misconceptions surrounding EVs, Conran highlighted the biggest hinderance to the uptake of electric vehicles – the electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Although the ban of new petrol and diesel engine vehicles is rapidly approaching, only 2% of 39 million cars in the UK are electric. Recent surveys suggest most drivers are worried about high prices and problems with the charging infrastructure. For example, 69% of drivers feel that there aren’t enough charging points in the UK. Furthermore, the majority of EV drivers have experienced problems with the charging infrastructure for a number of reasons. Firstly, public charging stations can be incredibly confusing. For some charging points you need to download apps, or sign in online with an account. Therefore, it is essential to have a smart phone in order to charge at some stations. This can be problematic for those who do not have a smart phone or have a problem with their phone such as poor signal, or no mobile data.
Considering the problems EV drivers are faced with on a day-to-day basis, Conran asked the critical question “what happens if I run out of charge?”. To answer this question, Conran took a visit to RAC Headquarters to see how they are addressing this increasingly prevalent problem.
As explained by Conran and James Gibson from the RAC, when an electric vehicle runs out of charge, the parking brake automatically activates itself, so you can’t easily put the vehicle into neutral to push or tow it. In certain situations, towing with four wheels off the ground is just not an option as it can be exceptionally difficult to move the EV; especially if a driver were to find themselves in a tight parking space, for example. By giving the EV a power boost, it allows the parking brake to be unlocked but also negates the problem of space.
Charge Pod is a super lightweight and compact EV power boost system which offers 100% duty cycle, so it will never run out of charge and will always be ready and available for use. This means Charge Pod can provide an EV with as much charge as is needed to simply unlock the parking brake (should a complete roadside recovery be necessary) or provide the EV with enough charge so it to be driven to the nearest static charging station.
