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Tesco is the UK’s best supermarket for electric car charge points a study by Electrifying.com has found.

The reasearch, which excluded ‘express’ or ‘local’ stores, found the retail giant has charge points at 45% of its stores, closely followed by Morrisons (40%).

Nearly one-in-five (19.7%) Asda stores have at least one place to plug in, Lidl 15%, Aldi 10%, while Sainsbury’s trails its rivals at 7.2%.

Ginny Buckley, founder of Electrifying.com, said: “We expected more supermarkets to be doing better, but it’s still great to see how some of them have recognised that offering shoppers reliable car charging is not only good for business but will also help give the nation confidence to make the switch.

“Providing charging infrastructure at convenient locations is crucial to encourage drivers to go electric sooner, particularly the significant number that don’t have access to off-street parking.”

Many supermarkets have entered partnerships with charge point suppliers to increase their offering.

In December 2018, Volkswagen announced it had partnered with Tesco and Pod Point to install around 2,400 charging points for electric cars.

In April this year, the partnership provided its 500,000th free top-up – the equivalent of three million kWh of electricity.

Louise Goodland, head of retail partnerships at Tesco, said: “We are delighted to be recognised as the best supermarket for EV drivers in the UK.

“So far we’ve delivered more than 23 million miles worth of free, green charges and we’re continuing to roll out EV chargers to 600 Tesco stores across the UK.”

In October 2019, Morrisons unveiled its first 50 GeniePoint rapid charging points at its stores nationwide, with a further 50 planned last year.

A partnership between Pod Point and Lidl GB to install 350 rapid chargers by 2022 reached the 100th rapid charger milestone in February.

Lidl GB said “We are proud to offer rapid charging points for EVs at 130 of our stores.

“By 2022, we aim to have more than 350 stores with rapid charging points.”

Waitrose is set to extend its partnership with Shell and roll-out 800 new charge points in 100 Waitrose locations by 2025.

A Sainsbury’s spokesman added: “We have ambitious plans for our next generation of charging points. We want to offer charging points in more places and create a better customer experience.”

			2. average number of CPs per store	3. total stores (excluding express)	4. number of stores with at least one CP	5. total CPs across all supermarket stores
		1. percentage of stores with at least one CP (%)
1	Tesco	45.05	1.87	888	400	1660
2	Morrisons	40.04	0.46	497	199	230
3	Asda	19.71	0.37	614	121	225
4	Lidl	15	0.15	860	129	130
5	Aldi	10	0.2	900	90	180
6	Sainsbury’s	7.17	0.18	600	43	106
–	Waitrose	–	–	358	–
–	Booths	–	1.93	27	–	52
–	Iceland	–	–	900	–	–
–	Co-op	–	–	2600	–	–
–	M&S	–	–	959	–	–

South East sees 42% increase in charge points

Research by UK Power Networks has found the number of EV charge points added to the network in London, the East and South East has increased by nearly 2,700 in the past 12 months.

There are now over 9,000 charge points in London, the East and South East, served by UK Power Networks.

Shira Lappin, innovation project lead at UK Power Networks, said: “It’s important that we work with local and central government, charge point operators, customers and other stakeholders to ensure that the transition to Net Zero is a seamless one and everyone has access to the charging infrastructure they need.

“In the 12-month period between April 2020 and April this year, the number of charge points in our areas grew by 42%. However, there’s still a lot of work to do to meet the growing demand for EVs and charge points, and we’ll continue to be at the forefront of innovation to get there.” By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

This article applies to fleet users but it has raised some interesting points that you may wish to address if you are a consumer driving your first electric car and want to make sure that you are covered for all eventualities. I’ve underlined those items that need special attention when taking out your insurance. Also, training may be useful in order to maximise the benefits of having an EV.

Allianz Insurance has enhanced its Motor Fleet (15 or more vehicles) and Small Fleet (4-14 vehicles) products to provide cover for electric vehicles as well as a wide range of services to support fleet electrification.

The specialist EV cover includes third-party liability during charging, as well as damage cover for cables, connectors and electric wallboxes located at the insured’s premises or an employee’s home.

Allianz has also future-proofed its wording and clarified some existing cover and limits in regard to vehicle automation and connectivity.

Gerry Ross, head of commercial motor, Allianz Insurance said: “These are really exciting times for us as we continuously challenge ourselves to bring the latest solutions to our customers. We constantly review our motor proposition to ensure we remain at the forefront of the market, meeting and anticipating broker and customer needs.

“The inclusion of EV cover reflects the evolving priorities of our customers and the option to use green parts demonstrates our commitment to sustainability. Our expert underwriters, local branch network and excellent claims teams are committed to delivering a comprehensive offering that reflects the challenges and opportunities modern fleets are facing.”

The new proposition is supported by Allianz’s risk management partners DriveTech and Lightfoot. DriveTech provides driver training, including an appreciation of regenerative braking, charging and EV safety. Lightfoot, meanwhile, uses connected technology to deliver real-time driver coaching, with a smartphone app offering drivers rewards and prizes.

This can help to reduce fuel consumption and improve the battery range of electric vehicles, while also reducing CO2 emissions. Both partners also provide risk management services that are valuable to drivers and fleet managers alike.

As part of its sustainability commitments, Allianz will also look to use green parts wherever possible on non-safety critical items (with the insured’s permission) when repairing fleet vehicles. With more fleet customers receptive to choosing environmentally sustainable solutions, green parts can make a positive and practical environmental impact.

Recognising that many commercial motor customers will want to continue to support people in their local communities, cover that was provided for volunteering during lockdown will continue, either for the NHS or the distribution of food aid from a recognised Trust or Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) charity. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Michelin has launched its all-season tyre, the new Michelin CrossClimate 2.

The CrossClimate 2 builds on the success of the CrossClimate+, Michelin said, and combines the benefits of a summer tyre in terms of wet and dry braking performance, with the traction and braking benefits of a winter tyre in terms of wet weather grip and driving on snow or in low temperature conditions, it said.

Scott Clark, executive vice-president, automotive, motorsport and member of the Michelin Group executive committee, said: “Since its launch, the original Michelin CrossClimate has had a radical effect on the European all-season tyre market, which has since enjoyed annual growth more than 19%, in addition to being the only segment to have kept growing during lockdown.

“Over the next five years, it is expected to expand at a rate of more than 16% per year. Safer, longer-lasting and more economical, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 is a further illustration of the Group’s All-Sustainable strategy.”

The 3PMSF (3-Peak-Mountain with Snow Flake) logo on the tyres sidewalls confirms that it can be used in winter in countries where winter tyres are mandatory.

Michelin said this means that for drivers who take their vehicles to mainland Europe during the winter months, there will be no need to swap onto winter tyres, and back again, each year.

The CrossClimate2 is available in 105 sizes – a 40% increase compared to its processor – for vehicles with 15- to 20-inches wheels.

Michelin said its technologies ensures high performance through the whole life of a tyre, down to its tread depth marker and its low rolling resistance helps save on fuel, energy and materials.

Michelin said its CrossClimate 2 – both new and worn – came out on top in six out of nine tests (chiefly braking and traction performance tests) in 2020 and 2021. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Osprey Charging will install more than 150 high-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs across the UK by 2025.

A total of 1,500 150-175KW rapid chargers will be installed across the sites, which will be located on strategic A-roads and adjacent to motorways.

The £75 million rollout will also see new charger optimisation technology deployed. Kempower charging technology enables locations to host multiple rapid chargers on a single site without compromising on charging power or requiring prohibitively expensive grid connections, says Osprey.

Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging, said: “It’s crucial that public charging infrastructure stays ahead of the curve.

“Through this rollout we will make charging anxiety a thing of the past. High-powered, multi-charger hubs will herald a new era of public EV charging – enabling mass EV adoption and a clean transport revolution.

“Our rollout of hubs across the country’s major transport routes will ensure drivers are supported with convenient, reliable, on-the-go charging, delivering the best possible consumer experience for UK motorists.”

Construction is already underway at four sites and Osprey’s first hub will open next month in Wolverhampton, adjacent to the A463 near the M6.

Construction will commence on all of the first 10 hubs before the end of the year, with more than 150 hubs consisting of 1,500 150-175kW chargers, opening on major transport routes, motorways, A-roads and popular destinations over the next four years.

Each rapid charger will be located near food and drink amenities, allowing drivers to make use of the facilities while they charge their car. For example, Osprey’s first four hubs are adjacent to well-known and popular retailers, including Costa Coffee, Lidl, Aldi, Pizza Hut, KFC and Curry’s PC World.

All Osprey chargers are compatible with every rapid charging EV on the market today and do not require a membership or subscription to initiate charging – drivers can simply tap their contactless bank card or smart phone.

New charging technology deployed

Osprey’s hubs will deploy a new technology – Kempower – which is enabling more locations than ever before to host multiple high-powered chargers on a single site, it says.

Kempower chargers work together to optimise charging across multiple vehicles when more than one EV is plugged in at the same charging hub.

They allow power to be distributed based on demand, which varies significantly between individual vehicles due to the maximum charging rate of each model and its battery percentage at the point of charge.

This power management can reduce waiting times for charging significantly, maximising the speed and availability of chargers for drivers, and increasing consumer footfall for the landowners hosting the hubs, says Osprey.

The load-balancing technology also means grid connections can be optimised, allowing multiple high-power chargers to be installed per site and offering higher charging speeds without the need for more grid power.

The physical footprint of each charger is also reduced by 74%, allowing space for more chargers, improved accessibility and reducing their visual impact to support planning permission.

Graeme Cooper, head of future markets at National Grid, said: “The widespread transition to EVs means we need to rethink how we make, move and use energy.

“The power demand for charging will be significant, so it’s crucial that we use the cleanest and cheapest power in our cars and to make the most of each grid connection.

“By optimising power management at charging facilities, we can ensure a smooth transition away from petrol and diesel whilst maintaining a stable and effective electricity grid.”

Construction is starting on the first 10 hubs at the following locations in 2021: Banbury, M40; Suffolk, A14; Essex, A127; Glasgow, M8; East Lothian, A1; Wolverhampton, A4123; Birmingham, M6; Croydon, London, A23; Crewe, A534; and Brackley, A43. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

These cars won’t be cheap so I’m not promoting them but they show how ranges are increasing with every new model. The Hyundai Kona with a 300 mile range was looking good so we are on target to hit ranges of 600 miles within the next 12 – 24 months.

Mercedes has unveiled the EQE saloon, which joins its growing range of electric models.

The E-Class counterpart is based on Mercedes’ purpose-built electric vehicle (EV) platform and promises a range of up to 410 miles.

Multiple powertrain options are expected to be offered, but only the EQE 350 has been detailed so far. It uses a 90kWh battery and has a power output of 292PS.

The EQE is compatible with up to 170kW chargers, enabling an 80% charge in around half an hour.

Mercedes says the car “carries the concept of the business saloon into the future” and makes use of its latest powertrain and in-car technology.

It represents the second of three electric saloons from Mercedes-Benz, sitting alongside the larger EQS.

While smaller in footprint, the EQE shares many styling and interior details with its sibling such as the black panel front grille and full width LED lighting at the rear.

Mercedes will offer the EQE with the MBUX Hyperscreen infotainment system, which spans the width of the dashboard providing a display for the front passenger as well as a central control screen and digital instruments.

The EQE is billed for arrival in summer 2022, with prices likely to start at around £60,000. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The increase in National Insurance Contributions (NIC), announced by the Government, will strengthen the financial appeal of choosing an electric vehicle (EV) as a company car, says Arval.

Employers pay NIC in several ways – on salaries, bonuses, and many employee benefits. The rates for those different kinds of NIC are all currently 13.8%. Following the 1.25 percentage point increase in NIC from April 2022, and subsequent Levy from April 2023, employers will pay NIC at an effective rate of 15.05%.

Employees have NIC deducted at source at different rates depending on their level of earnings, and each of those rates will also increase by 1.25 percentage points. 

Richard Cox, a consultant at Arval UK, said: “The change in NI improves the position of low carbon vehicles relative to others, so while there is an increase for EVs, it is much lower than for PHEV and much, much lower than for ICE.”

Figures from Arval show that for a £40,000 internal combustion engined (ICE) car, the monthly increase in employers’ NI paid on benefit-in-kind (BIK) taxation will be £11.67, whereas for a £45,000 petrol hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), it will be £5.62, and for a £50,000 electric vehicle (EV), just £1.04.

Cox says that the biggest impact of the NI increase for employers and employees is on salaries, where there is a combined 2.5% increased tax charge.

In contrast, for company cars the rate is half of that at 1.25%, because employees do not pay NI on benefits.

“This is good news for company cars in the sense that the increase in NI is smaller than for cash options, although again it is important to underline that the amounts involved are quite small when measured on an individual basis,” he explained.

“The amounts involved for employers are not enormous – an additional 1.25% on NI is barely more than the increases we see in BIK rates each April but will certainly add up over a large fleet.”

He added that the increase would have the least effect on companies who use a whole life cost (WLC) model for constructing their choice lists.

Cox said: “A WLC based approach means that the NI increase will be automatically absorbed because it is part of the defined company car budget, although it does marginally reduce the buying power of employees unless the employer decides to make a compensatory increase.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

New electric vehicle (EV) charge points, installed at home and in the workplace from May, will be pre-programmed to switch off during peak hours to ease pressure on the National Grid.

A ‘randomised delay’ of up to 30 minutes, when there is high demand from motorists, will also be introduced as more company car drivers make the switch to EVs away from diesel and petrol.

New chargers will not operate from 8am to 11am and 4pm to 10pm, but owners and fleets will be able to override the preset times to take account of night workers and people who have different schedules. 

Public chargers and rapid chargers, on motorways and A-roads, will be exempt, reports The Times.

Tanya Sinclair, policy director for UK and Ireland at ChargePoint, said: “Concerns surrounding the UK’s grid to support the charging of electric vehicles is mounting.

“The challenge for the Government, and perhaps the wider electricity system, is ensuring the ‘smartness’ in every charger is actively used by consumers, and managing the load represented by the legacy charging infrastructure already in the field which is not smart.”

The National Grid has estimated that 80% of EV drivers will use smart charging by 2050 and this will help balance almost half of the UK’s energy demands brought on by the move to zero emissions driving.

It says that around 45% of homes will actively help to balance the grid, offering up to 38GW of flexible electricity to help manage peaks and fill troughs in demand.

Smart changing means EV owners can plug in their vehicles and a management system will top up the vehicle at times that will be most beneficial to manage energy demand.

It also allows drivers and fleet operators to manage their charging stations remotely, implement new features automatically and gather data about how chargers are being used and by whom.

Government consultation on smart charging

The move to a default off-peak charging setting was first mooted in a Government consultation on Electric Vehicle Smart Charging, in 2019.

In its response to the consultation, published recently, it said that many respondents raised concerns about defining a specific off-peak time period in legislation, suggesting it could result in a secondary peak in demand.

Based on the feedback, it said it would adopt a more “nuanced approach” by mandating that smart charge points must prompt users to input a charging schedule and they must be preset to offer users a charging schedule that by default prevents EVs from charging at peak times.

During first use, the user must be given the opportunity to edit or remove this setting, it said. The user must also be able to remove or edit this default setting at a later date.

Peak times will be defined in legislation as 8am to 11am and 4pm to 10pm on weekdays. This time window, the Government says, is consistent both with its internal projections of expected EV demand, and with various external studies of EV charging patterns.

It explains that mandating the setting of a default charging mode will help mitigate the risk that some users do not engage with smart charging offers, and instead charge during peak times.

Importantly, it adds, mandating that users must be informed of and prompted to edit the pre-set charging schedule during first use of the chargepoint will help mitigate the risk that any default setting causes confusion and negatively impacts the user experience.

The consumer override and edit functions will ensure that users can turn off or edit their charging schedule, for example where they wish to sign-up to a DSR service such as a smart tariff.

Defining a peak time period in legislation instead of an off-peak period could encourage greater variation in approach amongst charge point sellers, thereby helping to mitigate the risk of a default mode requirement causing secondary peaks in demand, it argues.

However, it says it will monitor the effectiveness of this approach “closely” as part of our post-legislation evaluation.

The upcoming 2021 Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan will outline the steps that Government is taking to help drive the uptake of smart charging offers, including work to help ensure that consumers have confidence in the smart charging market.

Ben Fletcher, associate director of EV at Moixa, said: “Concerns surrounding the grid being able to support charging of electric vehicles aren’t new and the Government’s proposed plans around smart charger capabilities are a good way of answering this.

“The challenge is ensuring consumers are given the right tools to put them in control, and allow them to intelligently charge in an easy, flexible way that is convenient for them.

“Intelligent EV charging not only allows individuals greater control over the power in their vehicle but also enables greater access to cheaper, greener energy.  In turn, this ensures that drivers can decide when they want their vehicle to be ready by and the system then optimises when the vehicle charges.”

Moixa, through its Smart Battery hardware and Gridshare software, facilitates smart energy storage and sharing. “We facilitate and interpret interactions between energy storage devices and the grid, enabling data driven optimisation,” explained Fletcher.

“This means we can alleviate the demand on the grid and pave the way for smart EV charging, as well as help companies manage energy storage using advanced analytical data.

“Intelligent home charging is critical to help EV owners save money on their energy bill by tapping into cheaper energy rates while also enabling more renewable energy on the grid by integrating with increasingly agile tariffs.”

News of the charge point ‘switch off’ comes after MPs on the transport committee warned that unless charging habits change the charging needs from millions of new EVs will cause blackouts to parts of the country.

In a report – Zero emission vehicles  – published by the transport committee in July, the MPs set out a series of recommendations to Government to boost the production and purchase of EVs.

Last week, the Government announced it would legislate to ensure electric car chargers are built into all new homes and offices.  By Graham Hill Thanks To Fleet News And The Times

The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) is urging fleets to think carefully before ordering company cars where safety devices have been removed due to the semiconductor shortage.

The same applies to consumers about to order a new car. The global shortage of chips has caused delays to new car orders and seen some specifications removed such as lane departure warning and rear parking sensors.

The AFP says that there are a number of issues to be considered by fleets – from ethics to risk management responsibilities to future residual values.

AFP chairman, Paul Hollick, said: “We appreciate that the semiconductor shortage is leaving manufacturers with some tough production decisions to make and some have decided to delete what might be described as non-core safety equipment such as lane departure warning and rear parking sensors.

“Our view is that everyone should think carefully before buying these vehicles. From a risk management point of view, there is a moral and potentially also a legal issue in terms of operating some vehicles that are known to be potentially less safe than would normally be the case.

“Similarly, although safety equipment has not historically had a significant effect on vehicle residual values, the trade will know that these are ‘decontented’ cars and are likely to price them according in three or four years at disposal time. The impact on overall operating costs is difficult to assess.”

Hollick added that ongoing vehicle shortages caused by the semiconductor shortage were prompting a range of issues for fleets.

“There are predictable problems such as ensuring that cars and vans that are being operated for longer are maintained to a level that ensures they remain fit for purpose,” he continued.

“This is relatively simple but can be expensive and does require a lot of attention to detail.

“However, probably the most frustrating issues are the delays that are being caused to fleet electrification programmes.

“There are relatively large numbers of drivers with an EV on order who are facing the prospect of driving their existing diesel for another 6-12 months.

“Not only is there annoyance at the enthusiasm for EV adoption that exists being hindered but the practical fact that much higher benefit-in-kind taxation bills are being paid for much longer than expected.

“Additionally, many of these new EVs will now have life cycles that end beyond the current benefit-in-kind taxation tables, which adds a further layer of uncertainty.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

TTC is warning drivers and fleet managers to focus on the legislation change surrounding licence extension periods affecting all drivers.

TTC said the changes, that came into effect on September 1, is catching some drivers out with fines of up to £1,000.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) announced a grace period that saw all driving licences due to expire between February 1 and December 31, 2020, extended by a further period of 11 months.

As a result, any driving licences that were originally due to expire in October 2020 were valid until September 2021.

The Government also granted a seven-month extension to drivers whose photocard driving licence expired between the start of February and the end of August.

TTC is urging drivers to check their driving licence expiration date and re-apply to the DVLA immediately, while advising fleets to pay extra attention to driver licence compliance in the coming weeks.

Jim Kirkwood, chief executive of TTC Group, said: “The past 18 months have seen a host of regulatory shifts for drivers, as the Government has responded to the pandemic.

“As we return to a more normal regulatory environment, it is important drivers aren’t caught out by the end of this extension period.

“The range of solutions offered by Licence Bureau allows fleet managers to perform online driving licence verification checks both easily and quickly, and they will be immediately notified of any drivers whose licences have expired.

”

All drivers should make sure that they have a valid driving licence or risk a £1,000 fine. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

England will be the first country in the world to introduce mandatory electric car charging points for new-build homes.

All new homes in England will have to be fitted with charge points for electric cars, as the government seeks to facilitate the infrastructure improvements necessary for the planned mass-adoption of EVs.

The Department for Transport announced a public consultation on the subject last summer, which has now concluded with the  government confirming it will seek to pass legislation in parliament later this year. The changes will force homebuilders to install charge points so potential owners can easily charge their plug-in hybrids and electric cars at home.

The move will also mean buyers of new-build homes won’t have to make use of the Government’s home charger subsidy scheme.

The rules don’t affect new-build houses without off-street parking, but the Government is also investing heavily in research projects that have included wireless charge points, and charge points that rise up from the pavement.

The drive towards EVs comes as the UK Government aims to meet stringent targets for air quality and pollution caused by internal combustion engine emissions. From 2030, the £1.5 billion Road to Zero strategy will see the sale of all new cars without electrification banned.

Details of this remain thin on the ground, but it is understood new cars will have to be able to travel for 50 miles under battery power in order to be allowed to remain on sale, essentially removing all cars but pure electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen cars from new-car showrooms.

The new rules set to come before parliament later this year will require all-new EV chargers to be the ‘smart’ charging variety, which makes best use of peak and off-peak electricity rates and could see EV’s act as a hive-like network of power storage when large amounts of electricity are generated by wind turbines, for example.

As well as Road to Zero, the Government has also announced the UK is to be carbon neutral by 2050. With transport accounting for around a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, improving and reducing emissions from cars is a key target on the path to achieving this ambition.

Announcing the plans to mandate charge points in new-build homes, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Home charging provides the most convenient and low-cost option for consumers – you can simply plug your car in to charge overnight as you would a mobile phone.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Auto Express.