Evolt smart chargers selected for major nationwide trial

Evolt, the 129 Swarco Group’s eMobility brand, has been selected to provide its smart electric vehicle (EV) chargers for Electric Nation, a UK-wide trial that is seeking to better understand the demand and impact that ‘at-home charging’ places on the local power distribution networks.

Greater demand is being placed on power networks as the take up of EVs widens, EV battery sizes increase, and charging times get faster. This demand is particularly noticeable when EVs in the same local network are charging simultaneously.

The Electric Nation project aims to implement a prototype smart charging solution that will better manage power distribution at a local level at peak times.

Evolt is providing its smart charging unit to half of the 500-700 members of the public that are being recruited for Electric Nation. Its units will be subsidised by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles and Western Power Distribution (WPD), which is funding the project. Initially, the project will take place within the bounds of WPD (the South West, South Wales, and the Midlands), but has the ability to be rolled out nationally.

Electric Nation is the customer-facing brand of CarConnect, a WPD and Network Innovation Allowance funded project. WPD’s collaboration partners in the project are EA Technology, DriveElectric, Lucy Electric GridKey and TRL.