Wow! The more I write about the electrification of New Zealand, the more excited I get!
We’re not just talking the cars either, though the leaps ahead in technology and useful features we’re seeing – and the advantages of that electric witchcraft of vehicle-to-load applications in light of our recent weather catastrophes – are proving almost as ground-breaking as Father Henry’s model T.
Vehicle to load, or vehicle to grid as it also known in electric vehicle circles, is the ability for a fully charged electric vehicle to power appliances or even entire homes in the event of power outages.
This has only really been demonstrated by the BYD electric cars which performed outside of their owners expectations during Cyclone Gabrielle.
V2L or V2G has been demonstrated to a number of customers by a number of manufacturers, though it was demonstrated powering small appliances like kettles and toasters.
This was all kind of cute but then the true application of V2L on a major scale is difficult to demonstrate without seriously inconveniencing a home-owner or two. When the necessity arose however, V2L became a real lifesaver for some of those experiencing the effects of a cyclone.
V2L is still in its infancy but it is as real as running a fleet of cars and never paying for petrol.
There is the matter of charging however, and the Government du jour has signalled its intentions to expand our electric charging infrastructure throughout the country.
This is a good thing as the wave of the EV/BEV/HEV/PHEV and MYBRID fleet vehicles is not slowing down but is about to tip over into critical mass. We will need that infrastructure and we will need it very quickly.
We are at a point now where private sector suppliers who would normally be fierce competitors are working in bipartisan relationships to achieve common goals in this and indeed, many other regards.
Perhaps we are growing up after all.
Recently, we attended the E-ROAD fleet Day in Wellington where the big focus was on electrified vehicles and some advice on how to manage them as part of – if not all of – a progressive fleet.
What came through loud and clear across the brilliant day at BoomRock (stay tuned for EROAD’s next event just a few months away by the way) were two things:
First, the high degrees of ‘information vacuum’ surrounding well, pretty much all aspects of electric vehicle fleet management, one way or another.
Why we are pursuing this course of fleet electrification, what choices are available, how does it affect our internal organisation structure, what does it mean for fleet policy, engaging our workforce from remote home office environments and more besides.
It seems we still have a lot of learning to do!
Second, the willingness from the few with expertise in the various aspects of electric fleet transformation to share their knowledge and experiences freely to assist others looking to make changes to their fleets and therefore their organisations.
There are organisations and individuals with a good base of knowledge to draw from and for our part, we will be looking to share and communicate some of that knowledge with our readers as we move forward with them.
Our Electrified feature includes a case study, a range of electrified road reports, the first of a series of ‘primer articles’ for those looking at electrification for the first time and we also hear from the automakers who have made their mark in the electrified auto world.
