- Title: Can power napping solve electric car charging challenge?
- Date: 27th August 2019
- Summary: OSTFILDERN, GERMANY (AUGUST 19, 2019) (REUTERS) ELECTRIC CAR USED IN TRIAL DRIVING PAST IN RESIDENTIAL STREET VARIOUS OF CAR BACKING UP INTO GARAGE VARIOUS OF NORBERT SIMIANER, OSTFILDERN RESIDENT WHO PARTICIPATED IN ELECTRIC CAR TRIAL, PLUGGING CHARGING CABLE INTO SUPPLIED BOX ON WALL DISPLAY INSIDE CAR READING IN GERMAN "CHARGING TIME 2:05 HOURS" (SOUNDBITE) (German) OSTFILDERN RESIDENT WHO PARTICIPATED IN ELECTRIC CAR TRIAL, NORBERT SIMIANER, SAYING: "The price is an issue, the car's travel range is an issue and so is the charging time and the charging infrastructure. If there are improvements I can imagine that e-mobility will slowly pick up speed. But I don't think we will see huge numbers of electric cars in the next ten years." DISPLAY INSIDE CAR (SOUNDBITE) (German) OSTFILDERN RESIDENT WHO PARTICIPATED IN ELECTRIC CAR TRIAL, NORBERT SIMIANER, SAYING: "Someone who works in Munich and has to travel for business can't afford to drive from Munich to Stuttgart (230 km / 142 mi.) and stop to recharge twice, having to wait for two or even two and a half hours. I believe that's the main problem. The loading capacities will definitely be expanded over the coming months and next two years. But that I think needs work." STREET SIGN STREET / NETZE BW POWER DISTRIBUTOR SIMIANER GETTING INTO ELECTRIC TEST CAR CAR DRIVING OF (SOUNDBITE) (German) E-MOBILITY HEAD OF PROJECT FOR "NETZE BW," LOCAL GRID OPERATOR BEHIND THE TRIAL, CHRISTIAN BOTT, SAYING: "I think we are on the right path. We are in the process of continuously expanding our electric grid in order to prepare for mobility changes. So customers don't have to be scared that the lights will go out." DETAIL OF CAR PARKING SIGN FOR ELECTRIC CARS ONLY (SOUNDBITE) (German) E-MOBILITY HEAD OF PROJECT FOR "NETZE BW," LOCAL GRID OPERATOR BEHIND THE TRIAL, CHRISTIAN BOTT, SAYING: "We did not really notice the extreme load which we kind of expected. The charging process itself was positive throughout in regard to the consequences on the power grid. Customers did not notice anything and it did not hamper their mobility." PARKED ELECTRIC CAR ELECTRIC CAR DRIVING PAST / ANOTHER ELECTRIC TEST CAR PARKED OUTSIDE HOUSE
- Embargoed: 10th September 2019 08:55
- Keywords: electric cars e-cars test charging track
- Location: OSTFILDERN, GERMANY
- City: OSTFILDERN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Environment,Climate Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001ATZSPSD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Automakers around the world are pushing hard for new networks that can charge electric cars fast. In Europe, some power companies and grid operators are testing whether it might be smarter and cheaper to move into the slow lane.
A 15-month study of electric car charging behaviour in Germany has concluded that consumers can be persuaded to accept slow, overnight recharging that could help avoid brownouts from surges in electricity demand or costly upgrades to power grids.
The prospect of millions of electric vehicles (EVs) hitting the roads as governments gradually ban new diesel and gasoline cars is seen as a major challenge for power companies, especially in Germany which is switching from nuclear and coal to less predictable sources of energy such as wind and solar.
The small study in the wealthy Stuttgart suburb of Ostfildern-Ruit though has helped alleviate the concerns of some grid operators that too many EVs charging at peak times could cause network crashes.
The engineers at Netze BW, the local grid operator behind the trial, found that all the households involved came around to leaving their electric cars plugged in overnight and only half ever charged simultaneously.
Still, with limited EV battery ranges for now, slow, overnight charging doesn't get around the problem of how to persuade drivers to ditch petrol cars altogether.
Without a network of fast-charging stations offering quick refuelling, drivers may be wary of using EVs for long trips - which is why some automakers want lots of fast-charging stations to encourage the widespread adoption of electric cars.
(Production: Hakan Erdem, Frank Simon, Michele Sani) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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