Wider questions surrounding the take-up of electric vehicles (EVs) will be addressed when Anthony Machin, head of content at Glass’s Guide, takes to the stage at Automotive Management Live 2018.

Machin will explore the question “Will there be enough electricity to go around?” and deliver insight into how EVs are expected to perform in the new and used car markets in the longer term at the car retailing expo, which will take place on 8 November at Birmingham NEC.

Addressing the annual event through the Glass’s best practice seminar at the one-day expo, Machin will lay out the part retailers have to play as Government pushes its all-electric agenda through its Road to Zero plan, suggesting that dealers will need to both gear-up to sell new EVs and take EVs in part-exchange.

But Machin maintains that the delivery of an electricity supply capable of powering an EV revolution is a question that remains to be answered.

He said: “We have all heard of the times when electricity networks are worked hardest at their peak demand. It is usually a cold winter’s evening, when a Premiership football team is playing in the Champions League and it is free-to-air match. Then suddenly, as the half time whistle is blown, all the viewers switch on the kettle to make a hot drink.

“The UK electricity network is designed to cope with this instant demand. However, with increasing volumes of EVs demanding instant charge, predictions show that the load on electricity networks could double during the evening peak periods.”

Part of the EV evolution includes charging during times of reduced demand such as overnight and the use of smart chargers ensuring drivers use only the right amount of electricity even if the EV remains plugged in.

Machin added: “Effectively, smart chargers are being developed to smooth the peaks of electricity demand. For instance, if an EV is plugged in at work for nine hours but needs only two full-power hours to charge, there is a great amount of flexibility when the charger is used and what rate it charges at.

“Shifting the charging time to align with a period of surplus electricity will help address shorter-term variations.

“Without smoothing electricity demand, it’s likely that the UK electricity network would require significant high cost upgrades potentially taking years to complete.”

Automotive Management Live brings together suppliers, expert industry speakers and delegates from the franchised and independent sectors.

The future of EVs will be a one of a variety of topical areas up for discussion and debate at the event.

Once again, Automotive Management Live, hosted in conjunction with the National Dealers Franchised Association (NFDA), is free to dealer and manufacturer colleagues.

Pre-register at http://www.automotivemanagementlive.co.uk/online-registration for the most productive day automotive retailers will spend away from their businesses this year.