Electric vehicles, a huge challenge for European electricity networks: what the industry will look like in the coming years

The electric vehicle revolution is in full swing, as direct electrification is becoming the main driver of a decarbonised economy.

The electricity grid will remain stable despite the exponential growth of the electric vehicle market and the high ambitions of electrification, reveals the new EY-Eurelectric study. But timely planning of charging infrastructure and coordination between public authorities, electricity utilities, network operators and charging points will be key to success.

130 million electric vehicles, up from 3.3 million today, will reach European roads by 2035, according to a joint Eurelectric-EY study. By then, 65 million chargers need to be installed to provide a seamless experience. Of these, 85% will be residential, while 4% will be on public roads.

The appearance of 130 million electric vehicles on the market is a huge challenge

Jean-Bernard Lévy, President of Eurelectric, said: “Electrification is now an irreversible mega trend in road transport. The next challenge is to accelerate the implementation of the infrastructure in a well-coordinated way, in order to meet the growing needs of charging, while ensuring the optimal use of the electricity network ”.

Serge Colle, EY’s global market leader for the energy and resources industry, said: “To accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, we need to make electric mobility work for the customer. This means providing a seamless experience with a robust charging infrastructure that allows all electric cars to charge quickly and reliably. With the need for significant network investment and support for critical digital solutions, utilities are the key to winning the hearts and minds of our customers. ”

The launch of the charging infrastructure must maintain the growth of the EV market. It is therefore urgent to address existing bottlenecks: delays in authorization and networking of up to 36 months, funding constraints, availability and access to real estate in strategic loading locations and interoperability restrictions.

The existing electricity grid will be able to accommodate the transition to electric vehicles, but advance planning and coordination is needed to ensure that it copes with future increases in energy demand and increased loads. Once the EV penetration reaches 50% on an urban distribution network, uncontrolled charging could lead to voltage deviations and may affect the quality of the power supply.