Businesses of all sizes need to embrace today’s electric car charging infrastructure solutions to meet changing employee behaviour and drive a more sustainable long-term transport future.
It appears electric vehicles are finally on the move. With sales picking up in 2012 and a predicted continuation of growth through 2013 that should see sales numbers double in markets like the UK this year, it is clear the consumer market is demonstrating positive signs in terms of EV acceptance.
This optimism is further fuelled by the commitment shown by many leading car manufacturers. They have continued to plough resources and hard cash into the development of new EV models. Indeed, many are expected to bring their new creations to market over the next twelve months, including Renault, Opel/Vauxhall and BMW – all hoping to follow the lead set by the likes of Nissan and Chevrolet.
It is time the business community more fully engages with the possibilities which EVs can deliver
With greater choice and lower entry price points allied to the environmental and running cost benefits offered by EVs, the near future should see a step change in the take up of such alternative transport means. Sales are also increasing across European countries such as France and Norway as well as in the USA, which in 2012 saw electrically-powered cars account for nearly 4% of the total car market,up from 2.3% in 2011. Thoughts are now turning to the kind of charging infrastructure technology required to support the growing momentum behind electrically-powered cars.
As consumers will be heartened to hear about the increase in investment in infrastructure initiatives, such as the UK’s expanding ‘Plugged in Places’ scheme, so it is also time the business community more fully engages with the possibilities which EVs can deliver.
Businesses that introduce smart charge points at work and instigate ‘pay as you go’ technology and smartphone solutions to account for energy used when staff recharge a vehicle at work, can enable the take-up of EVs to also dovetail with the workplace. However, the time has come for far more organisations to now scrutinise the existing infrastructure solutions to help them and their staff prepare for a future where EVs will be widespread.
The time has come for far more organisations to now scrutinise the existing infrastructure solutions to help them and their staff prepare for a future where EVs will be widespread
Laying the foundations for ease of recharge and energy payment solutions will only reap rewards in the long run. Cities like Berlin, which has over 200 charge points operated by RWE, and Amsterdam which expects to see over 10,000 electric vehicles on its roads by 2015 and requires 1,000 new charging points to be installed, are at the vanguard of the EV movement, with the local business community also playing a pivotal role.
A standardised approach to smart charging has been accepted by all American and European vehicle manufacturers and with it, for the first time, ‘smart charging’ has been defined and characterised for technology development. This is leading the way to fully automated and standardised communication between the vehicle and charging infrastructure. It enables all aspects of the charging process to be captured, managed and controlled.
For car drivers used to traditional payment methods for fuel at a gasoline filling station, such ease of payment is non-negotiable if EVs are to gain widespread acceptance. Businesses, knowing that standard and smart charge point solutions are in existence today and can be offered on company premises, should not ask themselves if they should be involved in this revolution, but should instead think how soon? In ten years’ time, when EVs are in common use, employees will thank them for it and early commercial adopters today will reap the benefit tomorrow.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Automotive World Ltd.
Jonathan Woodthorpe is the head of e-mobility at npower
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