The EV industry viewpoint: Charging towards the future

Perhaps the biggest change is that the rise of the electric car will make businesses and retailers the fuel stops of the future. In a world where customers are choosing where they shop based on where they can recharge, and employees are considering whether they can charge their car when choosing a new workplace, retailers and employers are looking to move first to get an advantage.

EVs and the installation of charging infrastructure are both new and growing industries, with the popularity of electric cars and vans growing at an incredible pace in the UK.

So, why build EV charge points in your business? We’ve found there are two main reasons.

First, as the number of people driving EVs grows, customers and employees are foregoing the filling station and looking for somewhere to charge. Hotels, for instance, are increasingly finding customers phoning them to ask whether they have charge points. As a result, these companies are beginning to see the availability of charge points as an important part of their overall customer experience and business strategy. 

Ten years ago, not all hotels provided customers with Wi-Fi, but today it’s an expectation. Electric vehicle charging is at the same stage today as Wi-Fi was then, and there are already hotel booking sites that allow customers to filter by hotels with EV charging capacity.

Second, companies of all kinds – both big and small – are increasingly committing to EV charging as part of their overall sustainability strategies. For many, it’s an important part of their corporate identity and their commitment to having a positive impact on the environment.

When it comes to a company’s own fleet or company cars, choosing electric cars and vans can result in significant savings. With many cities in the UK introducing Clean Air Zones that will charge the most polluting vehicles for access, there is a clear business case for EVs and associated charging. The running costs of the vehicles themselves help save money for employees and businesses too. When considering an entire of fleet vehicles, it’s easy to see how these savings add up.

Our expertise across the energy sector means we are ideally placed to support businesses’ electric vehicle charging infrastructure needs. From problem-solving to consultancy, we create EV charge points with the future in mind.


edie’s Sustainable Mobility Blueprint report

This edie insight report explores five of the most important areas of focus for sustainability professionals – from electric vehicles (EVs) and greener fleets, to smarter business travel.

Transport is responsible for a quarter of global energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and these emissions are increasing at a faster rate than any other industry. How can businesses across all sectors curb this trend?

This edie insight report, developed in association with E.ON, explores how UK businesses can take the lead on accelerating the transition to more sustainable forms of mobility. Expert advice, best-practice case studies and facts and stats will be structured around five key areas: Electric Vehicles, Alternative Fuels, Green Fleets, Smarter Business Travel, and Sustainable Shipping & Aviation.

— DOWNLOAD THE REPORT HERE —

Shahid Rana is channel and propositions development manager at E.ON

Comments (1)

  1. Julie Owst says:

    I’m investigating electric charge points at my employer premises but apparently the standard charge point is incompatible with Tesla cars – this is frustrating and counter-intuitive to the sustainability agenda. Does anyone know if a simple adaptor can be used or do Tesla cars require a fundamentally different set-up? Thanks for reading.

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