There’s no disputing the fact that EV is a market being driven forward with great acceleration – if you’ll excuse the puns. Because, while being ‘green’ once appealed to only a small handful of consumers, environmental decision-making is now influencing buying habits across multiple sectors – not least the automotive industry.
And the number of electric vehicles on the road is only going to rise. But, despite all the hype, is the UK ready for the ever-increasing adoption of EV?
At present, no, arguably not. And the UK is not an isolated case. In fact, Kalibrate recently surveyed 1,433 consumers and 520 business stakeholders across 10 different countries and found that over half of EV drivers (57%) get nervous about running out of charge and two thirds (66%) are always on the lookout for new places to charge their EV. The majority of EV drivers would also value having access to EV charging at their place of work, and also at shopping venues.
While such findings suggest there is still work to be done, wider data did also emphasise that most people think EV is here to stay, and should therefore be a strategic priority for businesses, when it comes to the installation of charging points.
Five steps to getting started with an EV strategy
There are a number of factors to consider when looking for the best charging locations, including:
- Market characteristics for different charger placements
- EV customer segmentation and the evolving profile of the EV driver as adoption increases
- Site feasibility and projected customer demand/potential
- The availability of funding
- EV competition in the vicinity.
And of course, potentially unplanned ‘hurdles’ may also need to be overcome in terms of the permissions required by land owned via other stakeholders – hence why wayleaves are such a big topic in this industry, at present.
Partnering with specialists in this niche landscape will help to streamline and accelerate the process from start to finish. Because, while the EV market may be in its infancy, there are a number of providers who have already started to change the face of what’s possible – so leveraging their experience, knowledge and advice. That’s when the potential of EV can be truly unlocked, for the benefit of the environment and the business case, alike.
Kalibrate’s study of the EV market – The Electronic Opportunity: Mapping the habits, preferences and needs of electric vehicle drivers – is available for download, here. A number of additional helpful resources can also be accessed for free on the Kalibrate website.
