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Distribution network operators must prepare their businesses for micromobility solutions, which pose a more immediate challenge than other types of electric vehicle (EV), the World Energy Council has warned.
Speaking at an Accenture conference, World Energy Council senior director of policies and scenarios Karl Rose said that very few major car manufacturers are seriously forming their business model around electric mobility at the moment, as the economics do not currently work.
But, he said, some of the economics of micromobility solutions, such as Segways and other similar purpose-built smaller vehicles “already work today”.
The rise in EVs of all kinds will directly affect DNOs as customers charging their vehicles will significantly increase power demand, requiring networks to provide innovative solutions or undertake costly reinforcement of the grid.
Rose said the emerging micromobility sector, consisting of purpose built EVs, is “almost not noticed” by the general public as they are being used within logistical fleets such as postal services.
The range of micromobility solutions already being designed and used are “not odd things that small start-ups are doing, they are also very strong with some of the larger car manufacturers”, he added.
“What we see at this moment in time is an incredible amount of disruptive innovation happening within this scene, it’s not the Teslas of this world in my opinion.
“I believe Tesla might be the absolute revolution in years to come.”
Rose said many utilities realise how fast the pace of change will be, but is “completely convinced that in central Europe 50 per cent of utilities will not survive because they do not react fast enough”.
Rose also currently sits on European utility Energie Steiermark AG’s supervisory board. The company is planning to capitalise on the EV market with 400 shops leasing EVs.
Rose said: “We are doing it as a pre-investment, I cannot guarantee what returns we are going to see on it.”
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