Britain’s smart meter network is a “credible option” for enabling smart electric vehicle (EV) charging, despite a report warning against its mandatory use, the chief executive of the Data Communications Company (DCC) has argued.
Angus Flett was speaking in response to a report produced on behalf of trade body Energy UK titled Future of Electric Vehicle Smart Charging.
The report raised several concerns about mandating the smart meter system for smart charging solutions to support demand control. These included the fact that it is a GB-specific solution only and that it does not cover the non-domestic sector.
However, in response Flett told Utility Week the company disagreed with the thrust of the report, adding that its network is a “credible, pre-built and highly secure option for rapidly enabling smart EV charging at home and at work”.
He said: “The benefits of the DCC supporting EV charging would be high standards of cybersecurity, interoperability avoiding consumers being trapped in poor deals, and secure load control to balance the grid when millions of electric vehicles are drawing down or offering back the power consumption of an average home.
“This solution is endorsed by key industry groups and meets National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) requirements.”
Far from being a rival to energy companies and chargepoint providers, Flett said the DCC network is a “common enabling platform” for competition, innovation and consumer choice that already exists and is capable of supporting private EV charging.
“The network is a public asset, which can and should be used to deliver maximum public benefit – supporting home and workplace EV charging would be a strong example of this,” he added.