Electric vehicles: the smarter route

The move to electric vehicles (EVs) is already helping the UK reduce its usage of fossil fuels, while also driving down the cost of mobility and improving air quality. But even as growing numbers of people switch to EVs, their benefits cannot be taken for granted.

Research estimates that the mass take-up of EVs could see demand for electricity rise around 15 per cent over the next 30 years. If EVs are to realise their full green potential, we need as much of that electricity to come from renewables as possible.

Great Britain has already made great strides in the usage of renewable methods to generate electricity, reducing the emissions intensity of its energy supply by 50 per cent in four years. But can this momentum be sustained if demand rises significantly?

This is where smart meters come in. While most people understand the role these have in helping consumers understand their electricity usage, smart meters also have the potential to play a much bigger role in decarbonising Britain – and enabling greener technologies such as EVs.

Unlike traditional meters, smart meters are able to measure not just how much energy customers are using, but when they use it – which means new tariffs can reward households for using electricity at times of lower demand or greener supply.

This technology will be even more useful as more people turn to EVs. Think what would happen, for example, when millions of people return home from work and plug their cars in at the same time. Under the existing system, this surge in demand could potentially drive up prices and may increase our dependence on carbon-intensive fossil fuels.

But what if we could do things differently – and divert this extra usage to cheaper and greener electricity? Most EVs already allow customers to programme their vehicle to charge overnight when demand is lower. However, with smart meters installed, energy suppliers could reward customers for doing that – and not only with their EV.

Customers won’t just be saving money, though. They will also be making sure as much of their charge as possible is drawn from clean sources. We know, for example, that periods of low demand often coincide with higher availability of renewables, meaning that households will be going greener as they save cash.

Of course, it won’t always be the case that low-carbon energy and low price periods combine. But some EV owners can make use of apps which help predict when electricity will be greenest. These apps can then schedule EVs and other devices to charge at that time.

But this is just the beginning of what smart meters can do for EV drivers. In the future, smart meter customers with EVs could potentially re-route any surplus charge in their batteries back into their home devices – avoiding the need for those devices to use extra electricity in times of high demand.

Think about that scenario where EV drivers return home after work. Many will likely have more than 50 per cent of their battery remaining. What if they could use some of this remaining energy – procured on a cheaper rate the night before – to help power their home through the evening rush?

These different scenarios provide some insight into the role that smart meters play in securing our low-carbon future. With smart meters, the possibilities are just beginning.