Skip to main content

Evolt smart chargers selected for major nationwide trial

Evolt, the Swarco Group’s eMobility brand, has been selected to provide its smart electric vehicle (EV) chargers for Electric Nation, a UK-wide trial that is seeking to better understand the demand and impact that ‘at-home charging’ places on the local power distribution networks.
November 7, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

Evolt, the 129 Swarco Group’s eMobility brand, has been selected to provide its smart electric vehicle (EV) chargers for Electric Nation, a UK-wide trial that is seeking to better understand the demand and impact that ‘at-home charging’ places on the local power distribution networks.

Greater demand is being placed on power networks as the take up of EVs widens, EV battery sizes increase, and charging times get faster. This demand is particularly noticeable when EVs in the same local network are charging simultaneously.

The Electric Nation project aims to implement a prototype smart charging solution that will better manage power distribution at a local level at peak times.

Evolt is providing its smart charging unit to half of the 500-700 members of the public that are being recruited for Electric Nation. Its units will be subsidised by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles and Western Power Distribution (WPD), which is funding the project. Initially, the project will take place within the bounds of WPD (the South West, South Wales, and the Midlands), but has the ability to be rolled out nationally.

Electric Nation is the customer-facing brand of CarConnect, a WPD and Network Innovation Allowance funded project. WPD’s collaboration partners in the project are EA Technology, DriveElectric, Lucy Electric GridKey and TRL.

Related Content

  • Alfen to supply EU offices with EV charging infrastructure
    September 14, 2017
    Belgian company Alfen has won a tender to supply the European Commission offices in Brussels with charging equipment for electric vehicles (EVs). Alfen will also provide its online management tool for real-time insights into charging behaviour and remote control of the chargers. The roll-out of the first phase of 60 chargers is taking place in September 2017.
  • EU funding for Danish EV charging project
    February 24, 2015
    Fast charging of electric vehicles (EVs) in Denmark is about to become easier thanks to over US$1.1 million of funding from the EU's TEN-T Programme, which is funding a pilot project upgrading the existing charging stations in Denmark to common European standards. This will allow different types of electric vehicles from all over Europe to travel freely in Denmark and will serve as best practice to other European countries. The pilot project will transform 40 of Denmark’s 46 existing charging stations into
  • Kapsch outlines tolling options to combat traffic congestion
    January 11, 2017
    Michael Maitland from Kapsch TrafficCom looks at how the various forms of tolling can help authorities combat traffic congestion and air quality problems while simultaneously raising revenue.
  • ‘Quick charger’ for electric vehicles
    November 22, 2012
    UK company Chargepoint Services has partnered with France-based DBT to distribute their Rapid Charge Unit for electric vehicles. The DC chargers can recharge an electric vehicle, such as the Nissan Leaf, to approximately 80 per cent battery capacity in just 20-30 minutes, but costs around 60% less than other rapid chargers currently on the market today. The company says this could help revolutionise electric vehicle travel, making longer journeys “range-anxiety free” by bringing refuelling times closer to