Project Skyline – EV Companies will Share Data in UK to Power Transition

EV industry leaders pave the way for net zero carbon transport revolution

Electric vehicle (EV) industry organization leaders have joined Project Skyline to enable a cost-effective and secure transition to EVs for UK households. In an industry first, stakeholders from across the sector will share EV purchase and chargepoint data to help forecast the uptake in EV ownership, inform infrastructure requirements and improve customer experience. While competition can be a good thing, fragmented networks hamper development of charging infrastructure and are likely put increased stress on the grid.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) and UK Power Networks are working together, in partnership with ElectraLink, CrowdCharge and the Energy Innovation Center to deliver Project Skyline. This innovative scheme will enable the Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) to pinpoint when and where new electricity demand to charge electric vehicles is coming from with unprecedented accuracy.

Volkswagen UK group is another partner, and is engaging with the project to share EV purchase data.

Signatories to the project to provide critical EV-related data include:

• Auto Trader - one of the UK's largest online automotive marketplaces

• DriveElectric - EV van leasing organization

• Hangar-19 - electrified transport innovator and solutions provider

• Rightcharge - EV chargepoint and smart charging tariff comparison website

Sharing data such as EV purchase queries and sales and chargepoint installations will provide early visibility of EV infrastructure being connected to Britain's electricity distribution networks. This will enable utilities to improve the customer experience when installing chargepoints and manage increasing demand on the network more efficiently. Better data allows better informed decisions around where and when to invest in flexibility, target network reinforcement and ensure the electricity network is prepared to deliver net zero at the most efficient cost.

Richard Hartshorn, EV Readiness Manager for SSEN says, "It is very encouraging to see such enthusiasm from the EV sector to participate in Project Skyline. A data-driven approach to planning the future of our networks allows increased confidence in our decision-making and makes unparalleled accuracy possible. The greater the variety of data types in our arsenal, the better our forecasting for electricity demand on our networks.

"Skyline will allow us to be proactive through the EV transition, ensuring power supplies stay reliable and the customers' journey to cleaner transport is smooth."

About Project Skyline

Formed in 2020, Skyline brings together car dealerships, manufacturers, innovators, DNOs and chargepoint operators to develop a new digital platform connected to a data-driven Application Programming Interface (API). Multiple data sources will feed into the new platform to deliver crucial data for early visibility of EV uptake and create an automatically-updated database.

Motor industry organization the RAC estimates that there are more than 330,000 zero-emission Battery Electric Vehicles on the UK's roads - with more than 125,000 registered so far in 2021 alone - along with 320,000 plug-in hybrids and over 700,000 conventional hybrids.

There could be as many as 36 million EVs on UK roads by 2040, double the number expected just a year ago, according to the National Grid's forecasting. With the UK expected to see such a massive growth in electric vehicles, there will be an increased demand for electricity and EV infrastructure such as chargepoints. So Project Skyline will play an important role in ensuring supply is able to match demand in critical areas.