Energy Management
Electrification and the opportunity for wholesalers
With the transition to electrification continuing at pace, Jordan Brompton, co-founder and CMO of myenergi, explains the growing opportunity for UK wholesalers.
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s the automotive industry accelerates its shiſt from the internal combustion engine to electric powertrains, work continues to develop the infrastructure needed to support the vehicles of tomorrow. Positively, insight from Zap Map reveals that EV drivers now have access to more than 44,000 public charging points, a 36% increase since June 2022 alone. However, this is just the start, with a target of 300,000 public charging points expected to be installed by 2030. With just 8,365 petrol stations operational in the UK according to data from Statista,this might sound like job done. However, it’s important to remember that the vast majority of charging still takes place at home. Indeed, in a recent survey conducted by EV charging provider Virta in partnership with market research company Kantar, 67% of respondents said that home
28 | electrical wholesalerSeptember 2023
charging would prove a necessity when they purchased an EV.
As a result, adoption rates of domestic chargers continue to increase – driven by both rising consumer demand, as well as new legislative drivers. The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations, for example, mandate that all new build homes and non-residential buildings with more than ten parking spaces must have a smart EV chargepoint installed. With the aim of supporting the transition to electrification and offsetting consumer cost, this support is further helping the mass adoption of electric vehicles. This movement is obviously bringing with it a raft of new work for installers. While some are trading directly with the OEMs, the vast majority remain entirely reliant on wholesalers.
Breaking into an exploding market Getting ahead of the game should be seen as an
immediate priority, with rising EV sales putting charger installs at the top of the consumer wish list. A recent study by ElectricalDirect has revealed that, on average, electricians receive 40 EV-related customer enquiries each year – the equivalent of one every nine days. However, more than two-thirds (68%) of UK electricians do not yet offer EV services to their customers. Getting to grips with the marketplace, understanding the solutions available and building strong relationships with manufacturers is an important place to start. After all, offering stock is important, but collaborating with the best brands and being able to provide detailed advice about the numerous options available will set you apart.
Moreover, it’s important to keep up with the changing distributor model. For some time, the move away from just hardware supply has been coming, with a more holistic service offer
ewnews.co.uk
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