Innovation abounds, but does the event need to re-focus?
At this year’s Cenex Expo, exhibitors and visitors gathered to explore innovation in automated mobility and low-carbon transportation. Topics included electric vehicles (EVs), both battery and hydrogen, and a broad range of technologies supporting the transition to net zero.
Resonates took a ‘pod’ at the event this year, and our team used it as an opportunity to chat to exhibitors and delegates to find out what’s hot… and what’s not.
While the exhibition had visibly downsized compared to previous years, the breadth of what was on offer had, if anything, increased. Many exhibitors questioned whether the diversity of the expo had become too confusing for visitors, and whether it was time for the event to refocus with a clearly stated mission.
Charging infrastructure: challenges and innovations
Charging at home when you don’t have a driveway remains one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption. While the number of public charge points has expanded massively in the past couple of years, drivers without access to off-street parking miss out on the benefit of cheap charging using off-peak domestic tariffs.
So, it was good to see a cluster of exhibitors (including Kerbo Charge, Nodum and Trojan Energy) offering a range of innovative solutions for under-the-kerb and overhead charging options, which have the potential to offer those without off-street parking the same benefits as people with driveways. It was also reassuring to see that these exhibitors were busy talking to visitors for the duration of the expo.
Each of the solutions on offer takes a different approach to solve the on-street charging challenge, with differing pros and cons and application ‘sweet spots’. The market is certainly big enough to support a range of solutions.
Fleet decarbonisation
It was good to see some of the major automotive OEMs showcasing their low-carbon fleet and commercial vehicles at the event, including the iconic, fully electrified Ford Transit, which celebrates its 60th birthday this year. One of the unique aspects of this show is that it is located at UTAC’s Millbrook site, which features over 70km of driving tracks. That means visitors can easily get behind the wheel of an EV to put it through its paces.
E-mobility isn’t just about the drivetrain and decarbonisation these days; increasingly it’s synonymous with autonomous and connected vehicles. An executive from bus manufacturer Karsan dropped by our stand. It was interesting to get his perspective on how best to communicate the benefits of autonomous vehicles, which was to focus on normalising the concept of ‘autonomous’. His argument is that we already put our faith in a lot of technology for our safety and convenience and autonomous driving technology is no different. Karsan featured its autonomous bus at the event.
Representatives from Local Authorities and Charge Point Operators (CPOs) seemed to dominate the second day of the event, and seminars focussed on emergency services, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), commercial transport, and readiness of energy systems to support EV fleets.
Our CPO client Mer popped by our stand to say hello and share some thoughts too: “For fleet operators charged with meeting sustainability targets, getting power from the grid and into their commercial vehicles is a massive transition from current practices. And it’s a transition that has to happen while maintaining existing operations and meeting commercial objectives. Every fleet is different, and it follows that every EV fleet transition will be different. While there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution, there are businesses, like Mer, that have already helped businesses overcome the challenges and avoid the pitfalls that are easy to fall into.”
Funding gaps and policy challenges
The question of funding was on many minds at Cenex, with attendees reflecting on the 2016-22 investment boom compared to today’s more challenging financing landscape. The tougher funding environment has left innovative businesses struggling to overcome what one investor called the “funding chasm”. Another concern raised is the continued influence of fossil fuel donations when it comes to lobbying on public policy decisions, slowing the shift toward cleaner transport.
Cenex used its platform to highlight alternative sources of finance including further awareness of the DRIVE35 programme, a £2.5 billion package of funding to support the manufacture of zero-emission vehicles and their supply chain components.
Land use and infrastructure inequality
With several charge point operators and charging infrastructure innovators in attendance, the challenge of land use and infrastructure inequality was also discussed. A Scottish EV charging solutions company explained the lack of rural representation: “In places like the Highlands, high voltage cables are few and far between, so innovation is critical to not leave these places behind”. There’s fierce competition for the best sites, but this leaves rural areas underserved. Without the infrastructure, drivers lack the incentive to switch to EVs, and without many EV drivers there’s no incentive to build infrastructure.
Greater battery range means fewer drivers need to use rural charge points and it’s cheaper to charge at home if you can. “I can’t remember the last time I needed to – or even wanted to – drive for more than 300 miles. So, charging at home, getting to where I want to be and then charging again at home is a viable option now,” said one attendee.
Public sentiment and the education gap
Disinformation, myths and education gaps are combining to create a confusing landscape surrounding EVs, leaving many consumers uncertain about the facts. And because the switch to EVs requires a shift in mindset and behaviours, these myths and gaps make it harder for people to change. Many at the show agreed that education and awareness campaigns, powered by strategic communications, are essential to make the benefits clear to consumers.
The hydrogen question
Though battery EVs dominated the discussions, hydrogen was in the room. Toyota showcased a hydrogen Hilux, and refuelling stations were installed outdoors, showing hydrogen’s role in the future mobility mix. And our client Fuel Cell Systems has its HyQube on display. Yet, according to some vendors we talked to awareness of hydrogen projects remains low, and without broader policy support the technology risks being overlooked in favour of electric options.
“The challenge is awareness. We need to let people know what we’re doing and that we’re a viable alternative to battery electric vehicles facing infrastructure issues and grid capacity constraints,” said a hydrogen mobility professional.
Technology transfer
Another hot topic was cross-sector technology transfer. This cross-cutting theme spotlighted how innovations in transport – like battery design, drivetrains, hydrogen systems, and digital twins – are being leveraged beyond automotive, in sectors such as agriculture, aerospace, defence, and energy.
Eliminating waste and carbon from the supply chain in everything from printed circuit boards to test rigs and processes was another recurring theme amongst some of the more niche vendors.
Future focus: the road ahead
Cenex showed that while the road to e-mobility isn’t without its challenges – from funding gaps and infrastructure hurdles to public sentiment and education – the forward momentum is undeniable. Innovation is happening across the board, from smarter charging solutions to hydrogen-powered alternatives to new programmes like DRIVE35 injecting billions into the sector.
The future of mobility won’t be built alone, though. Through our conversations and moments of collaboration at our stand, we saw that engineers, innovators and investors are working toward the same goal of decarbonising the industry, delivering a cleaner future of transportation.
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