WSP is approaching the Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure market with a global mindset and a truly multi-disciplinary approach. We also bring the strength of WSP’s broader capabilities in energy generation, grid connection and transmission, enabling us to support clients with vertically integrated solutions that go far beyond charging infrastructure. 

We are able to combine the insights from government policy and emerging trends with a full planning, design and project delivery capability to tackle projects from site appraisal and feasibility all the way through to commissioning and handover.

We are delivering projects for clients from a few AC chargers all the way up to large scale e-HGV megawatt charging hubs for major logistic operators.

Zero Emission Mobility (ZEM) is a critical element in achieving a sustainable, net-zero future. This shift to ZEM is not just about changing energy sources; it's about embracing a whole-system perspective that includes every aspect of mobility, from policy, planning, and business models to technology and user behaviour. Read on as our experts highlight the challenges and how WSP are solving these challenges worldwide. 

The global focus on climate change and carbon emission reductions has necessitated the UK government to set out a plan to reduce the transportation sector carbon output through the transition to low and zero carbon fuel alternatives. The phasing out of internal combustion in favour of electric mobility requires an Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure network to meet all stakeholders’ requirements. 

This journey to net zero is intricate, involving the integration of new technologies and addressing social challenges caused by these changes. It's essential to ensure that our medium-term infrastructure supports this transition, aligning with our international commitments and legal obligations. 

At the core of WSP's approach to ZEM is our commitment to a whole-system perspective. This means understanding not just the technological aspects, but also the societal, environmental, and economic dimensions of mobility, energy and digital. Our strategy is to look at the big picture - how people use and interact with mobility solutions and how these solutions fit into the broader context of their lives and communities. This holistic view ensures we start with a transition that is attractive, inclusive and sustainable.

We recognise that the success of ZEM solutions depends not only on their environmental impact but also on the commercial viability. Our team's diverse expertise, spanning from planners and policymakers to investment advisors, behavioural and data scientists, and electrical engineers, enables us to craft solutions that are technologically feasible, sustainable and economically sound. This comprehensive approach ensures that we keep the customer and the whole system in focus, delivering solutions that meet practical needs and align with broader societal objectives.  

We apply our expertise across environment, science, technology, and engineering to achieve net-zero. At WSP we’re excited for the projects we’re helping clients deliver, in the UK and across the world. The net-zero transition requires complex and deep expertise across multiple technologies, skills and sectors – and it requires a culture of constant learning, collaboration and understanding. The levels of investment, change and delivery we will need to see over the next seven years are significant but, we believe, that with the right policies, approach and expertise they are achievable and will lead to a cleaner and more sustainable and resilient Britain.  

Consultant planners and engineers play a vital role in facilitating the transition to a decarbonised transport sector. Here are key ways in which they can contribute: 

In summary, consultant planners and engineers are instrumental in providing the expertise needed to plan, implement, and manage the decarbonisation of the transport sector. Their multidisciplinary approach, encompassing urban planning, policy advocacy, technological integration, and community engagement, positions them as key contributors to the success of sustainable and resilient EV charging networks. 

Collaboration lies at the heart of how WSP operates. That is internally, with the ability to learn and benefit from experience in different regions and environments, but also externally, in partnership with our clients, other organisations and other countries. This approach also enables us to interlink client projects, for example facilitating shared carbon storage infrastructure within an area, leading to time and cost efficiencies. Just as no one technology will solve the transition, no one organisation or nation will solve this alone. Changing the way we produce energy means changing the way we move and store it and how we think about our grid; this will mean connecting the UK grid to other countries, for example with high voltage DC connectors, allowing us to better manage supply and demand at national, regional and global levels.