IN view of the increasing costs of energy, there is a degree of uncertainty regarding the development of e-mobility.

The increase in costs is closely linked to the current crisis, however, which means it is not permanent. In particular, this applies to the soaring electricity prices in 2022.

The price distortions on the electricity market are ultimately because one source of energy (gas) has made the price of electricity disproportionately more expensive according to the “merit order” pricing principle.

Juice Technology, manufacturer of charging stations and software said the trend towards increasingly renewable forms of power generation remains unbroken, however, and the costs of these forms of energy continues to fall. In the medium to long term, electricity will become increasingly cheaper, the more renewable energy is generated and the “smarter” energy grids become.

Lars Thomsen, futurologist and member of the administrative board at Juice, said: “As an active element in the smoothing of peak loads in local power grids, e-cars will play a key role in creating stability on the power grid. In the next few years, this is set to become an important issue for all the parties involved (car manufacturers, network operators and customers).

The condition for this is an intelligent distribution of the available electricity using smart charging systems. Dynamic load management will therefore become a must for all of the new charging stations appearing on the market. The distribution can take place on an evenly distributed, or prioritised and time-controlled basis.

“The ramp-up curve of e-mobility in the commercial and public sphere is now starting to grow on an exponential basis. In increasing numbers of towns, cities and municipalities, electric variants of public transport and municipal vehicles are replacing diesel-powered vehicles.

“The tipping point, at which electrically-powered buses, vans or taxis are cheaper than diesel or petrol vehicles in terms of their overall costs, is now being reached in an increasing number of areas. This often means that the decision in favour of e-mobility not only makes sense in environmental terms, but also from an economic perspective. In the van and HGV segments, the victory march of purely battery-driven vehicles is also on the horizon in the coming years and decades.”

The decisive factor will be that in the medium term, public charging infrastructure will be available wherever it makes sense for operators and customers. The charging type must also be adapted to the location.

Juice Chief Executive Christoph Erni said: “A DC quick charging point is expensive to purchase. The choice of location therefore needs to be carefully considered. Car parks at hotels, leisure facilities, tourist attractions, shopping centres, airports and business parks can be equipped with 15 to 20 AC charging stations for the price of just one HPC (high-power charger) and the batteries will still be full – and in a more environmentally-friendly way.”