LAST year was the second hottest since 1880, according to a new report from NASA.

If this is not proof global warming is real, what is?

Air pollution, which has been significant in Colchester for years, is a contributing factor to warmer temperatures.

However, those working at Rapid Electronics, a technology distributor in Colchester, think they have found part of the solution.

The popularity of electric cars in the UK has shot up over recent years, with more than 125,000 plug-in vehicles on the road compared with just 3,500 in 2013.

This huge increase in electric cars in 2018 has come about because of a greater level of choice for drivers and a constantly improving recharging network.

James Bates has been managing director at Rapid Electronics since July 2016.

He and his team are working with installation contractor ICEE Managed Services to boost the number of charging stations in the town.

“We aren’t in control of the planning or investment but we are helping organisations understand what technology they can use,” he said.

“There is a large growth potential, the people who are leading the agenda are the manufacturers, and they are pledging massive investment.

“Taking all this into consideration it’s quite obvious at the moment there are not enough charging points.”

Gazette:

There are nine charging points in Colchester, in the following locations:

  •  Waitrose in St Andrews Avenue
  •  Glyn Hopkin Nissan Dealership in Wimpole Road
  • Essex University
  •  Tollgate Retail Park
  •  Aspen House Partnership in Stephenson Road
  •  Lancaster Toyota in Axial Way
  • Colchester United’s home at the Weston Homes Community Stadium
  •  David Lloyd Colchester
  •  Holiday Inn Express in Birchwood Road

Mr Bates added: “EV comes down to people having residential chargers, but there are lots of people who do not have parking so the infrastructure has to grow.”

He hopes they will soon be available in all supermarkets, leisure centres and most businesses.

Colchester Council has said it has updated the Local Plan to include potential points for EV chargers.

Council leader Paul Smith said to tackle air quality, the authority was considering a number of extra charging points in the town.

Gazette:

Mr Bates said technology will also need to improve.

He said: “At the moment there is Alternating Current and Direct Current charging. Manufacturers usually go with AC which is slower. DC is faster but not all cars are designed to use it.”

The national grid delivers AC but electric vehicles should charge their batteries with DC.

A DC fast charger supplies power directly and safely to the vehicle’s battery. The DC charger is external and is, therefore, not constrained in size or cost.

DC fast chargers have smart technology, enabling them to adjust the charge level to suit the battery state.

In the future it is thought most cars will be using the faster, cheaper DC charging, which will also help the environment.

The Healthier Air for Colchester action plan identifies the need to install electric vehicle chargers.

Air pollution is a silent killer which is believed to be contributing to the deaths of more than 100 people in the town every year.

The World Health Organisation’s recommendation of nitrogen dioxide is 40μg/m3.

Brook Street’s latest readings are 46μg/ m3, St John’s Street is at 41μg/ m3 and East Street’s readings are at 41μg/m3.

Mr Bates said air quality has got better in some areas but there was a lot of work to do.

“When you look at Colchester, the development of housing and the sheer scale of the town, it is growing,” he said.

“If you don’t have plans in place to reduce pollution obviously it is going to get worse.

“EV is without a doubt a huge influence. For us it was almost an obvious thing as we are a technology distributor.

“I think if anyone can add to the growth in electric vehicles they should do it. It is everyone’s responsibility.”

ICEE is an installation contractor which is eligible to submit grant claims for customers as part of a Workplace Charging Scheme.

Rapid Electronics will be able to advise customers on how the charges will be installed and how long they can run for.

They will work with the contractor to run the service, which covers the entire planning, procurement and delivery process, including equipment selection, supply, installation, commissioning and lifetime maintenance of EV charging systems.

Paul Harris, managing director of ICEE Managed Services, added: “EV charging point clusters must become as commonplace as petrol and diesel filling stations.

“We have already launched into supplying and installing EV charging points. We want to strengthen our presence in this exciting new market.

“We jumped at the chance of partnering with Rapid and helping to create a simple one-stop-shop service.”

In the Government’s latest air quality plan, new diesel cars will be banned from 2040.

If this was not enough of an incentive to make the switch, global warming is, without a doubt, happening everywhere.

It seems Colchester is on the road to cleaner air but there is a long journey to go before air pollution is wiped out. EV may not be the answer but are part of the solution.

To find out more about the partnership visit www.rapidonline.com.