APRIL 2023 AFTERMARKET 19 www.aftermarketonline.net range anxiety and public charge point availability issues into the history books. 4: Eco-smart charging will become commonplace Continuing on the theme of domestic charging, it’s worth mentioning the importance of future-proof tech and the ability to harness self-generated energy to charge your EV. After all, data from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme suggests that more householders than ever are adopting renewables to offset their reliance on mains supply and reduce their carbon footprint. This trend is expected to continue in 2023 – especially when it comes to solar and domestic-scale wind generation. After all, the energy price crisis rumbles on with no sign of abating any time soon, meaning consumers are being forced to take matters into their own hands. My advice is therefore to consider installing a renewable-compatible EV charger, even if you don’t yet have solar panels installed. I predict that self-generation will boom over the coming years, with more households than ever opting for decentralised, green supply (especially as return on investment periods are dropping fast). Think ahead and make sure you don’t have to buy twice – it’s a false economy. 5: V2G technology will develop further In the same sentence as smart charging, you’ll often hear the terms V2H (vehicle to home), V2X (vehicle to everything), V2L (vehicle to load) and V2G (vehicle to grid). After all, EVs are basically just mobile batteries. The idea behind V2G is the opportunity to store energy in the EV battery and return it to the grid in times of peak demand. This would not only earn you money, but also help to flatten electricity usage curves. It’s a smart idea and one that could deliver significant value from a decentralised energy perspective. At myenergi, we’re working on numerous demand side response trials to see how the load balancing capability of EVs could work in practice – it’s set to be a major talking point in 2023. The transition to electrification While I may have referred to the above themes as ‘trends’ for the year, in all honesty they’re far more. The transition to electrification is growing in momentum and the industry is progressing quickly to support its future. From CaaS and technology improvements, to the incremental growth of domestic charging and its ability to balance the grid, these ‘trends’ are actually some of the key areas supporting growth – rather than gimmicks that will soon be forgotten. At myenergi, we’re excited to be driving the industry forward in 2023 and supporting the global transition to electrification. We have a number of exciting announcements planned for the next 12 months and look forward to seeing the sector continue to grow. For more information, visit: www.myenergi.com
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