LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The global EV Charger (EVC) market is forecast to grow from more than 1 million units in 2014 to more than 12.7 million units in 2020, according to a new EV Charging Infrastructure report by IHS Inc. (NYSE:IHS), the leading global source of critical information and insight. The report investigates the current and future regional deployments of EV charging stations and identifies factors for future growth.
“Deployments of EV charging stations are critical to enable a widespread adoption of electric plug-in vehicles,” said Ben Scott, senior analyst at IHS Automotive. “Most charging stations are expected to be installed in domestic applications, such as a dedicated wall box or simply a charging cord plugged into a household power source,” said Scott.
According to IHS Automotive, the global production market for pure electric and plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles is expected to grow significantly between 2014 and 2020.
EV AC vs. DC Charging Stations
There are two main types of plug-in EV charging stations – AC or DC. An AC charging station supplies current to the on-board vehicle charger and typically provides 5-15 miles of electric range per 30 minute charge, while a DC charging station supplies current directly to the vehicle battery and typically provides about 80 miles of electric range per 30 minute charge.
“AC charging stations are the dominant type of plug-in vehicle charging type, and we expect AC charging to retain its position long-term,” said Scott. “AC charging is also an inexpensive and convenient way of charging requiring much smaller upgrades of the electricity grid, whereas DC charging is best suited for ‘en route’ charging.”
Because of this, IHS Automotive foresees that AC charging is to play a crucial role in the public domain of the EV charging infrastructure. According to the report, approximately 10 percent of EV charging stations by 2020 will be within the public or semi-public domain, whereas the global DC charging stations are expected to be relatively low and located on the outskirts of cities and highway infrastructure, rather than located in dense urban areas.
The report finds that the deployments of the charging stations are dependent on a highly variable price range. The price can range from $395 USD for a simple domestic wall box to more than $35,000 USD for a DC charging station. This figure does not include installation costs that could add $10,000 in the case of a DC charging station, depending on its location and accessibility.
Germany and France - ‘sleeping giants’ of e-mobility
“Japan is a key growth region for the EV charging stations and recently passed a key milestone by having more EV charging stations than petrol stations,” said Scott.
In Europe, the report discloses, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Norway currently lead the way in terms of a number of charging station deployments.
“We recognize the potential of Germany and France,” said Scott. “They are the ‘sleeping giants’ of e-mobility, but their EV charging station networks are currently underdeveloped with respect to the size of those countries.”
Scott also said that the sales of electric vehicles in Germany and France have been relatively low in comparison to other European countries.
“In the U.S., EV charging station deployments are primarily driven at the state level. As an example, the ‘greener’ states, like California, deploy more EV charging stations than others,” Scott said. “This is highly dependent on the individual state’s level of incentives and legislation supporting the adoption of EVs, along with regulations for fuel economy.”
Japan leads globally with CHAdeMO
Japan has more than 2,800 DC fast charging stations, using CHAdeMO, the Japanese fast-charging standard. Japan accounts for roughly 50 percent of the global total of all CHAdeMO stations, according to the IHS Automotive report.
Europe and North America also have their own fast charging standard, Combined Charger System (CCS). This type of a fast-charging station is supported by the majority of OEMs, such as Audi, BMW, Daimler, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Porsche, and Volkswagen. Vehicles with fast DC charging capability based on the CCS standard have only been on the road since 2013.
From 2010 to 2014, IHS forecasts that just seven percent of electric vehicles globally use the CCS charging system and about 65 percent use the CHAdeMO standard. IHS expects this will change over the short to mid-term, as more vehicles with the CCS standard enter the vehicle parc (vehicles on the road). There will gradually be a more even split between the two DC fast-charging standards.
PHEV production to exceed EV production
According to the report, the mix of plug-in vehicles (EVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles - PHEVs) in the vehicle parc also has an impact on the rollout of EV charging station deployment. IHS Automotive forecasts that in 2016 for the first time, global PHEV production will exceed pure electric vehicle production and is expected to remain that way for the short to mid-term.
The accelerated production of PHEVs is motivated by meeting CO2 targets while remaining cost effective.
“Although there will be many more plug-in vehicles on the road, realistically it is the ‘pure’ EVs which will make most use of available charging points,” Scott adds. “EV production is also increasing and we expect charging infrastructure to rollout respectively.”
The regional markets will encourage EV charging stations, as stations in the public domain will be essential for consumers and in turn, a developed charging station network may encourage consumers to purchase a ‘greener’ EV over a PHEV.
Access the full report by following the link here. For more research and analysis on the electric vehicle and hybrid markets visit IHS Automotive Hybrid-EV Portal.
About IHS Automotive (www.ihs.com/automotive)
IHS Automotive, part of IHS Inc. (NYSE:IHS), offers clients the most comprehensive content and deepest expertise and insight on the automotive industry available anywhere in the world today. With the addition of Polk in 2013, IHS Automotive now provides expertise and predictive insight across the entire automotive value chain from product inception—across design and production—to the sales and marketing efforts used to maximize potential in the marketplace. No other source provides a complete picture of the global automotive industry. IHS is the leading source of information, insight, and analytics in critical areas that shape today’s business landscape. IHS has been in business since 1959 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, IHS is committed to sustainable, profitable growth and employs about 8,800 people in 32 countries around the world.
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