Number of electric vehicles continues to grow globally

Sales of electric vehicles will continue to grow strongly in 2024, states a report⁽¹⁾ from the International Energy Agency (IEA) on electric mobility. In recent months, as many as one in five cars sold worldwide was electric. However, the report also highlights potential obstacles that could seriously slow down the advance of electric mobility in the coming years.

The IEA stresses in the report that affordability is a key condition to drive sales. In Europe and the United States, combustion engine cars are still cheaper, while in China most electric cars are more affordable. The number of charging points also needs to expand significantly, according to the IEA. By 2035, charging capacity must increase sixfold to keep up with growth.

The obstacles that could slow the advance of electric mobility in the coming years, according to the 170-page report, include the inadequate rollout of charging stations, fickle government subsidy policies, volatile battery commodity prices and the high price tag of an electric vehicle.

E-mobility survey by Techlink 

In April 2023, Techlink polled via an online survey⁽²⁾ to what extent its installation companies use electric vehicles and they offer charging solutions to their customers. 52% of the respondents said they offer the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles and more than half of them have subsequently started doing so. 

According to Techlink, the charging station is therefore taking on an increasingly important role in integrated renewable energy systems. For instance, the combination of PV panels and electric vehicle charging infrastructure is rapidly increasing. Such smart charging is seen as a solution to maintain grid balance.

“Our installation companies are therefore actively seeking additional electrical installers to provide the necessary charging infrastructure,” said Eric Piers, CEO of Techlink. “The biggest challenges are the safe installation of this infrastructure in accordance with the AREI for electrical installations, the fire safety of electric vehicles in car parks and the control of large-scale charging infrastructure in line with the available capacity on the distribution networks.”

Memorandum

In a memorandum(3), Techlink advocates, among other things:

• A clearer policy framework, with clear measures to accelerate the rollout of electrification in the private market and charging infrastructure;
• promoting technologies such as battery storage and so-called vehicle-to-grid (V2G) to promote flexibility in energy storage;
• no extra administration for those investing in a sustainable energy management system;
• developing an incentive, such as the possibility of group purchases, for companies to accelerate the electrification of their fleet of light cargo vehicles.

Innovative charging solutions at Install Day

On Friday 18 October, five manufacturers will present innovative charging solutions at Install Day in Brussels Gate, the trade fair for installers of all kinds of technology. Besides charging infrastructure for vehicles, solutions for sustainable heating, ventilation and cooling and sanitary products are also part of the product range to be discovered.

Sources:

1. www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2024

2. www.installatieenbouw.be/artikel/de-opportuniteit-van-e-mobility-voor-de-installateur/

3. techlink.embuild.be/sites/default/files/media/files/2024-06/Techlink%20-%20Memorandum%202024_NL.pdf