EV charging via renewables – report

A US$15 billion business is emerging for zero-emission, off-grid charging stations for all EVs.

That’s according to a newly updated report Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Charging: Off-Grid 2020-2040 from IDTechEx.

It examines how the EV business is finding it profitable to respond to criticism that clean vehicles shouldn’t be charged with fossil fuel electricity, IDTechEx chairman Dr Peter Harrop says.

The purpose of this 230-page report is to enable materials, component, vehicle and infrastructure suppliers and all others in the value chain to understand this large, emerging opportunity for off-grid zero-emission (OGZE) charging of EVs land, water and airborne, he says.

First is ZE microgrids that are off-grid or capable of being islanded (using the grid as backup called “fringe-of-grid”) that charge vehicles – eventually US$15 billion in yearly sales on IDTechEx analysis. Second is land and marine vehicles and aircraft progressing to being energy independent pure EVs (EIEV), another large emerging market.

Delightfully, they help each other, Harrop says. For example, cars getting much of their electricity from new solar bodywork are easier to charge using affordable solar charging stations.

The new research methodology covering more 100 organisations consists mainly of ongoing global visits and interviews and use of privileged databases.

Learn the types of location matched to the best solutions, the place of DC microgrids, existing microgrid cost breakdown and action arising, with seven identified industries involved.

Leading solar vehicles are compared and trends explained, including wind, wave and tidal power.