The European motor industry has agreed on a common system for charging electric cars across Europe. Not bad, considering the present system of using several types of charging methods seems a bit ridiculous. I mean you would need a GPS or a decent iPhone app to find one that suits your particular plug-in. No wonder the market across the world is a bit fragmented.
So, the ACEA, the automobile manufacturers’ trade association, wants one type of plug to become standard for all electric cars by 2017, whoopee.
“This…paves the way for a harmonised solution around the globe”, commented ACEA’s secretary-general, Ivan Hodac. It does indeed and certainly makes the idea of an electric car a lot more attractive. High safety standards and ease of use give added fuel for thought.
The association wants regulators, infrastructure providers and rivals across the globe to adopt the same standard, achieving a global car industry as soon as possible. So, one language for all plug-ins, great stuff.
A standardised plug! Ha, there could be one or two problems with this comprehensive proposal (when aren’t there one or two problems).
Put it this way, it’s not going to be a simple matter about agreeing on using the same plug, is it? It’s going to involve the other simple matter of how much electricity should be pumped through this, and how super quick this should be done.
You see, some of these plug-ins have batteries designed to be charged rather slowly, yep using ordinary household plugs. There are others that use faster charging plugs. Now, up to now, the car manufacturers have used this with glee, a chance to get ahead of competitors. First one past the post, as it were. Now, suddenly, they’re on level pegging.
But for once, when it comes to electric motoring, they see eye to eye. All very well, you might think except that…the motor industry has dreamed up detailed recommendations suggesting how the car should communicate with the grid, and how the power companies should charge for the electricity used. This is going to spark a fuse between the charging infrastructure and the car’s electricity inlet, whether AC or DC, slow or fast.
Still, it seems it reduces costs, is better for investors, economy of scale and so on.
Well I guess, all in all, these factors should make plug-in charging less confusing, when you think how most would-be consumers are faced with the muddle of the present system. Not surprising most back away from the thought of purchase.
Of course, the men in the car trade are working hard to develop electric motoring systems for the future, for big time use. Good, a really efficient system could be a winner.
For the moment though, it’s probably safe to say that electric cars are not likely to overtake purchases of cars powered by petrol or diesel engines.
Write in and let me hear your plug-in views everyone…
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