NIE Networks has requested that users notify them of new electric vehicle charge points, with promises to improve the electricity network infrastructure for those areas.
Electric cars can be charged from commercial charge points or private chargers plugged into the regular electricity grid, but they draw consistently higher wattage than a typical appliance and run for much longer intervals. Too many cars being charged in the same part of the electricity grid can put it under unexpected load, and this can cause problems.
Now NIE Networks has announced that it will work to improve the electricity grid capacity in areas that are used heavily for car charging. It's calling on customers to notify them when they install or are planning to install an electric vehicle charger, even if it's being plugged in via a normal 13 amp plug.
The commitment to improve the grid in areas with electric car usage comes in response to recent statistics showing that there are almost 3,500 electric vehicles in Northern Ireland but only 1,300 have sent notification to NIE Networks of their charge point. It also falls in line with the UK government's plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035.
Ian Bailie, Network Development Manager at NIE Networkscommented on the announcement: "It is a crucial step towards building the energy sector of the future, and all we ask is that our customers notify us if they have installed or are thinking of installing a charge point, so that we know where the new demand is and can build the network capacity that our customers need."
Bailie has promised that if a customer's electricity supply isn't adequate for a domestic car charger, NIE Networks will carry out network reinforcement for the customer free of charge. If you have installed an electric vehicle charger, you can submit a notification to NIE Networks at https://www.nienetworks.co.uk/connections/low-carbon-technologies.
Source: Written based on press release
