REASONS WHY YOU NEED ON-SITE EV CHARGING
In my last PHTM article on EVs, I emphasised the urgent need for a rapid increase in on-street charging infrastructure, and it’s importance in providing an overnight charge for on- demand drivers with no private home parking.
No private parking, no EV An ongoing critical issue to many professional drivers in deciding on the viability of going electric, is the time, and place to charge up. For those without private home parking, or on- street charging facilities this mostly means - no driveway - no EV. If, on the other hand, you do have private parking, (and this goes for companies with depots), it would be a mistake to delay further, and to waffle over whether investing in EVs and charging infrastructure is a good idea.
EVs and Infrastructure – The Chicken and Egg Problem of Our Day This is a chicken-and-egg problem that has stymied so many on-demand fleets, and drivers' motivation to make the switch so far. It's mostly true to say, that no one wanted to build electric vehicle charging infrastructure until there were more electric vehicles; yet, no one wants to purchase EVs until the charging infrastructure has expanded. This will be irrevocably swept away by the fast-growing fleet of EVs that are increasingly affordable, with larger batteries and ranges that consumers love. The other ‘chicken and egg’ dilemma is that of on-demand driver’s needs, where duty cycles, high-mileages, and battery sizes still mean the inconvenience of on-shift charging top-ups for many, and yet higher-use EVs work out even cheaper to own than ICE vehicles.
The Problem Solved The one shining example of how the chicken and egg problem is solved, is Tesla. Elon Musk realised from the start, that if Tesla was to succeed and scale up, there was a need to provide a robust, rapid and plentiful number of chargers for the exclusive use of his EVs. This has proved to be so, and then some… with Tesla currently valued at more than double the rest of the world’s automakers combined. So successful has the Tesla Supercharger network been, that since May, it has already been opened up - as a limited pilot - to all other EV brands. The full number of Tesla superchargers will be accessible to all in September.
A Role Model to Emulate? While this business model worked for Tesla, it should be noted that the attributes for it’s success were based around supply and demand. Tesla in this case supplied it’s own infrastructure and then created it’s own demand, which then increases the need for both, creating a virtuous cycle. This is a strategy and business model that can work brilliantly for on-demand fleets with depots and private parking facilities.
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Depots, Forecourts of the Future The daily need for electric PHVs and taxis to charge, due to high mileages, and the narrow geographical areas they operate in, means that conveniently sited depots, providing charging, and adjacent services, such as food and beverage, means there is a wide range of opportunities available that are often only a few degrees away from current and existing operations. As an EV Consultancy, we have clients in other sectors, such as hospitality and hotels, who are relishing these new market opportunities, and tapping into innovative strategies and a whole new world of repeat, increased revenue streams from e-mobility and energy.
Site and Fleet operators, why you need on-site EV charging By investing in charging infrastructure now, there is an open playing field for those that can take advantage of the fact that EV demand is outpacing public rapid charging infrastructure. Encouraging drivers to go electric by providing the suitable charging infrastructure required is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. It is a win-win, for operators and drivers alike.
Mind the Gap For those operators, and other industry stakeholders with ambitious objectives to scale, now is the time to plan and take action. The shift to electric can be seen as a challenge to overlook, or an opportunity for those that take it. Tesla proved to the sleeping giants of the auto industry that EVs are the way to go. The legacy manufacturers, dithered, and hesitated, taking a reactive approach, only for a start- up from 2008 to become the dominant force in the shift away from internal combustion engine to electric. Those legacy car manufacturers are now virtually eating from the hand of Tesla, as many of their customers will now rely on Tesla‘s Supercharger network going forward, and this extra demand will only strengthen the gap between Tesla and the rest.
Are you happy to let other operators take the lead on the shift to EVs? Since 2014: The Connect Consultancy has provided an independent, and end to end suite of products and services in the fast evolving e-mobility sector. Our goal is to provide scalable and innovative strategies for decarbonising transport and energy.
Article supplied by Tim Scrafton
THE CONNECT CONSULTANCY CONSULT
DESIGN SUPPLY INSTALL
The UK’s leading independent electric vehicle infrastructure consultancy 0161 635 6553
hello@theconnectconsultancy.com
AUGUST 2022
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