Enel X is a leading energy transformation business, aiming to making life smarter for people and companies everywhere with business lines that include electrification of public transport, e-mobility, energy and capacity market activity, as well as procurement and advisory services. Its focus is on clean energy solutions to support customers in their efforts to meet net zero targets.
At TRANSPORT Smart Class, Wales 2022 we were delighted to welcome Mike Kent, Enel X UK’s E-Bus Sales and Business Development Manager, and Martin Navarro, Director of Enel X Way, the Enel Group’s new global business line fully dedicated to electric mobility. Their insightful presentation considered the transport system as a whole when local governments and businesses are reviewing their net zero goals, and how maximising energy assets for a joined up approach can benefit residents and businesses, and boost the local economy.
Mike and Martin highlighted the Welsh Government’s Net Zero Wales Strategy, including the transport pledge that ‘By 2025 10% of passenger travel will be by zero emission car and 48% of new car sales will be zero emission, we will have a comprehensive network of electric vehicle charging points, and will also have transitioned a large proportion of our bus, taxi and private hire vehicles feet to zero emission vehicles’.
A variety of policies (e.g. zero emission bus fleet, Taxis and private hire and EV charging infrastructure) will support this ambition statement but, in order to meet local policy, Government policy must be accelerated if Net Zero goals around transport are to be met. Overviewing the existing EV Charging infrastructure, Mike and Martin pointed out that Wales only has 1104 chargers currently in operation and that only just over 100 of these are classed as rapid charging. “Synergy”, they stressed, “between the private and public sector” is a key ingredient to success.
Mike and Martin subsequently hosted deeper dive roundtable sessions with our delegates centred to the following discussions points:
- What is your current progress or planning towards net zero transport? (Either as an authority or business)
- What considerations are you taking into account when planning infrastructure around net zero transport?
- How does the local government overcome the barrier of lack of public infrastructure in order to provide a minimum charging service for their community, in accordance with the Net Zero Goals?
- What is the local acceptance to transition to an EV and how to overcome the lack of electrical grid capacity in rural and remote areas?
- What opportunities are there for energy assets when considering a net zero integrated transport system? (Social, Economical)
- What are your key takeaways/actions as a result of this discussion?
If you meet our regular delegate qualification criteria but were unable to join us on May 26th for the live in-person event at voco St David’s Cardiff, CLICK HERE and complete the short “Download form” (located at the bottom of the post) to receive a unique link enabling free access to the presentation video recordings and slides (including the film footage and slides from Mike and Martin’s initial presentation).
Those qualifying to receive the rich presentation content from this event include commissioning, procurement, trialling and partnering leads, senior influencers, strategic decision makers and planners from: local authorities (e.g. city, borough, metropolitan, district and county councils); public and private transport operators; regional transport partnerships, sub-regional transport bodies, combined authorities, integrated transport authorities and passenger transport executives; highways authorities and road operators; government and supporting national transport agencies; fleet operators, vehicle manufacturers, parking operators, prime contractors etc.
