The change in the direction of the automobile industry is becoming more and more evident with each passing day. If you had not noticed it so far, then the shift towards plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles is growing at a rapid pace. There are a multitude of reasons for this. But the most important one, from both manufacturers’ and customers’ viewpoint, is the growing price of crude oil and the realization that they cannot depend on fossil fuels forever. Add to this a pinch of global politics that is distancing the western world from the oil sources ever so much with each passing day and a dash of eco-consciousness.
This new found demand for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids also means additional stress on grid power. And national policy makers and power distribution companies have to be prepared to deal with this additional burden. That is where a team of experts from Northumbria University led by Dr Ghanim Putrus and Charge your Car project come in handy. The team has designed a national projection system for UK that will help predict the load on grid energy and how much power it needs to fish out in future.
By calculating in the new found variables, one can always predict the future power requirements with decent precision. This helps those in command to prep up the infrastructure to the required point and be aware of the needs of tomorrow. The system has already helped state units in charting out the necessary for installation 1,000 electric car charging points by 2013 in the UK. The mathematical model predicts energy consumption patterns and also helps plan future EV charging points so that distribution is even and manageable.
One of the biggest fears of electric car users is the lack of supporting infrastructure and availability of charging stations. By putting in more of those, consumers will be encouraged to turn to electric and emission-free travel. Models like these help the system get its act together and make arrangements well in advance.
Via: Northumbria
