Guest Editor: Jordan Brompton, Co-Founder, myenergi
The transition to electrification continues at pace, with EV adoption rates increasing fast. According to insight from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), more than 286,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 129,000 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were registered in Britain between January and November 2023 alone – increasing 27.5% and 38.8%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.
In comparison, just 66,610 new diesel cars were registered (-15.7% year-on-year), representing a meagre 3.8% of the market. While the impending 2035 ban on all new petrol and diesel cars and vans is clearly influencing sales volumes and resale values, it’s fair to say that consumer behaviours are changing fast, EV popularity is booming and the days of the internal combustion engine (ICE) are numbered.
Predictions for 2024 demonstrate further EV optimism, with availability set to soar thanks to reducing pressure on the automotive supply chain, falling energy costs, fewer labour disruptions and increasing availability of raw materials. As a result, finished electric vehicles are now rolling off production lines at record rates and registrations are showing a strong upward curve – a trend that is widely expected to continue over the next 12 months and beyond.
As production efficiencies continue to streamline, lead times are also dropping and EV costs are subsequently tumbling, bringing them more in-line with their ICE equivalents from a purchase price perspective. This, alongside lower maintenance costs, increasing ranges and an ever-improving public charging network is rightly inspiring drivers to embrace an electric future.
Helping EV drivers go green(er)
The environmental allure of EVs continues to prove an attractive selling point. After all, the benefits of zero tailpipe emissions and less reliance on the global petrochemical industry aligns perfectly with the growing public consciousness to protect the planet. Ensuring that these themes remain front and centre is key to maintaining the speed of transition – especially in the face of misinformation, rumour milling and the anti-EV movement.
But are EVs really that ‘green’? Well, while they might start with a larger manufacturing carbon footprint than ICE cars, this difference in emissions is negated as the car is driven. With EVs charged on electricity and ICE cars burning fuel, the operational emissions are far lower. Insight from the New York Post suggests that before an electric vehicle reaches its second year on the road, the embodied emissions equal out.
Therefore, if you keep your EV for four years, your environmental footprint will be half of what it would have been with an equivalent fossil-fuel powered car. With more than 35 million cars on UK roads, the national transition to electrification is clearly a valuable move.
Yet, this maths only considers charging with mains grid electricity. By decarbonising your input power, it’s possible to widen this comparison even further.
At myenergi, we believe that tech innovation is key to achieving this. That’s why we developed the world’s first solar-compatible domestic EV charger – zappi – and have since shipped hundreds of thousands of models to EV drivers both in the UK and internationally.
As well as being fully grid compatible and smart tariff ready as standard, zappi also features optional charging modes capable of using 100% green energy generated by solar panels, wind turbines, or other renewable tech – not just smart, but eco-smart. Paired with the myenergi app, you can set timers to utilise economy tariffs, switch to the boost function for fast charging optimisation and accurately monitor your devices.
Using self-generated energy as an alternative to mains supply not only offers the potential to charge for free, but also further reduces associated emissions. It really is the most sustainable solution for accelerating the transition to electrification.
Propelling the sector
The automotive industry is at a turning point. While the sector has long been tied to the petrochemical giants, its future lies in alternative fuels. EVs are proving an attractive offer for drivers even without their sustainability credentials – next-generation tech, smooth power delivery, impressive ranges and futuristic design. When you add in the positive environmental benefits, the ability to reduce running costs, continued R&D, plus eco-smart tech, it becomes clear how bright the future really is for EVs.
How can we accelerate the transition to electrification sustainably? Well, domestic renewable energy has a major role right now and will have an increasingly important part to play as we move towards a fully electrified emobility future.
For more information about myenergi, or the company’s eco-smart zappi EV charger, visit www.myenergi.com.
