Tag Archives: electric vehicles

Cardiff, Cardiff News, Electric Vehicles, EVs, EVs and Automotive News

FleetEV celebrates national contract win

Cardiff-based FleetEV is celebrating after being awarded a place on the Halton Housing Fleet Procurement Framework, managed by MUFG Corporate Markets, a division of MUFG Pension & Market Services (formerly Link Group).

FleetEV is an electric vehicle (EV) services provider that focuses on helping organisations transition to electric vehicles through comprehensive leasing, salary sacrifice, and fleet solutions tailored to diverse client needs.

The company has been awarded a place on three lots of the national framework: passenger cars, light commercial vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes, and light commercial vehicle conversions. The framework is valued at £450 million and can be used by any public sector body in the UK, opening up significant growth opportunities for the Cardiff-based business.

Jarrad Morris, CEO and Founder FleetEV, said: “We’re so pleased to have been awarded a place on the Halton Housing Fleet Procurement Framework, managed by MUFG Corporate Markets, especially on three separate lots. We feel passionately about changing the face of EVs across the country and are so pleased to take our brand nationwide through this framework. We look forward to engaging with the public sector through the framework, helping them adapt to EVs in a simple way.”

 

Darrell Slevin, Director and Head of Asset Finance Advisory at MUFG Corporate Markets, a division of MUFG Pension & Market Services (formerly Link Group), said: “We are delighted to welcome FleetEV onto the Halton Housing Outright Purchase Framework. Being on three lots will enable them to deliver a wide range of vehicles covering the public sector’s electric light commercial vehicle requirements throughout the UK.

“We wish them every success and look forward to working alongside them to deliver best value into the public sector.”

Awards, News, Sustainability

myenergi awarded EcoVadis bronze medal for sustainability

Eco-smart home energy technology manufacturer myenergi has been awarded an EcoVadis bronze medal for its commitment to setting the standards in sustainable best practice. The prestigious accolade places the Stallingborough-based company within the top 35% of all companies assessed by the framework within the past 12 months.

EcoVadis is one of the world’s largest providers of business sustainability ratings, boasting a global network of more than 130,000 rated companies. Its certifications recognise and reward companies that go above and beyond to embrace sustainable practices.

The accreditation process requires businesses to submit documentation, examples and references for multiple sustainability proof points, with performance assessed against a bespoke methodology. myenergi scored well across each of the four performance themes analysed – environment; labour and human rights; ethics; and sustainable procurement.

Emma Brigginshaw, head of sustainability and ethics at myenergi, commented: “Being recognised by EcoVadis is a clear demonstration of our commitment to embracing sustainable best practice across the business. It affirms the robustness of our management systems and performance of our production processes.

“But while a positive endorsement of our work to date, this certification is just the start. As a leader in the design and manufacture of eco-smart home energy technologies, we’re committed to holding ourselves to account and really leading the way when it comes to setting the industry standards.

“We’re therefore already working hard in the background on numerous initiatives to further improve our environmental performance, each of which will be announced in due course. This bronze medal is a really valuable yardstick to fully understand where we’re already scoring highly, as Well as the areas that need additional focus moving forward.”

Best known for developing zappi, the world’s first solar-compatible electric vehicle charger, myenergi is a global leader in the home energy technology sector. The business manufactures a wide range of pioneering energy management devices, including the eddi power diverter and libbi battery storage system. Since its founding in 2016, the business has sold more than 600,000 units globally, while opening subsidiaries in Australia, Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland along the way.

For more information about myenergi and its latest range of eco-smart home energy tech, visit www.myenergi.com.

Driving, News

Coventry-Based Electric Car Subscription Business Nominated for EV Advocate of the Year

Car Subscription Business Nominated by Automotive Management

Coventry-based electric car subscription company EZOO have recently announced their nomination for the prestigious EV Advocate of the Year award by Automotive Management.

“We are honoured to be recognised for our dedication to advancing electric vehicle adoption,” stated Lash Saranna, Co-Founder & CEO of EZOO. “To be nominated alongside industry leaders like Volkswagen UK, Nissan UK, Devonshire Motor Company, and Luscombe’s is truly humbling.”

The AM Awards ceremony is set for Thursday, May 2nd, at the Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge in London.

Reflecting on the company’s journey, Lash remarked, “Our journey began in 2015 when we acquired the first Tesla Model X, and we realised the huge potential of electric vehicles, igniting a passion that hasn’t diminished to this day.”

Acknowledging the challenges of persuading consumers to embrace electric mobility, Lash added, “We encountered scepticism and resistance. To address this, we pioneered a unique approach – offering consumers the opportunity to experience electric cars firsthand through our unique monthly subscription service.”

Despite launching during the Covid Lockdown, EZOO has swiftly expanded its electric vehicle fleet and operational footprint, recently reporting that their vehicles are now travelling more than one million miles a year.

“Our intuitive online platform enables individuals and businesses to select, lease, and have electric cars delivered directly to their doorstep,” Lash explains.

Looking to the future, Lash expressed gratitude for the nomination and optimism for what lies ahead. “This recognition bolsters our commitment to advancing electric vehicle adoption and pushes us to continue our journey towards becoming a Net Zero business,” he affirmed. “We’re excited to see what the future holds for both our company and the EV industry.”

Find Out More About EZOO’s Nomination

News

Ford Credit announces its 2 MILLIONTH customer milestone

Ford Credit, the financial services arm of Ford Motor Company, has announced that it has reached the 2 million customer milestone for its industry-leading flexible Options product in the UK.

In recognition of reaching this customer milestone, Ford Credit celebrated by awarding the first 30 customers past the 2 million mark a refund on the first monthly payment of their finance package.

As the first automotive finance company to offer flexible Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) products in the UK nearly 30 years ago, Ford Credit has a long history of supporting customers with its innovative car financing products and services, particularly during challenging times.

Looking ahead, as the nation battles the cost-of-living crisis, the business expects to remain at the forefront of consumer car finance, providing drivers with much-needed flexibility and support to meet their ever-changing needs.

Help in times of need 

With customers always a top priority, Ford Credit already offers various modes of support to help vulnerable customers regardless of the situation, including offering payment extensions and holidays, and reduced payment options for customers in need.

However, the business is doubling down on its efforts to help customers keep their vehicles and stay on the road as many navigate potential changes to their financial situation over the coming months.

Ford Credit is currently trialling a number of solutions aimed at offering customers greater flexibility, including allowing them to change their mileage allowance should their situation or needs change. The business also recently introduced a new option for customers as part of its flexible Options product, enabling them to keep their vehicle (under a new finance contract) until they are ready to buy it, trade it in for a new car or hand it back to the business.

The product continues to evolve and disrupt with a new option recently introduced to enable customers to retain their vehicle (under a new finance contract) until they are ready to buy it, trade it in for a new car or hand it back.

Flexibility and support 

Beyond these initiatives, the business will also be doubling down on its core pillars of flexibility, personalisation and customer focus to maintain the highest level of service throughout this period.

A big learning from the pandemic was the importance of having multiple touchpoints for customers to speak with someone about their financing needs during challenging times. This is a key advantage of Ford Credit’s omnichannel experience, bringing together its store-led partner network with its online ‘Shop & Buy’ platform.

The business also works closely with individual customers to understand their personal financial situation, as well as analysing broader driver data on developing trends, to ensure its products are always as targeted and tailored as possible to meet their needs. Again, this approach will prove invaluable to many drivers as they face ongoing uncertainty over the coming months.

Finally, the business will continue to focus on providing customers with the flexibility required to meet their changing needs throughout this crisis, as evidenced during the pandemic when it introduced a range of frameworks and new finance solutions to respond rapidly to changing customer requirements and evolving trends.

Commenting, Carlos Treadway, CEO of Ford Credit Europe, said: 

“Customers are changing. The way they want to buy cars and engage with the company has changed – it’s more direct, online and personalised. But we know customers. We’ve been doing this for a number of years, supporting over two million customers through the good times and bad. There are lots of other companies that can do what we do but there’s not companies that know Ford customers like we do. We’ve always focused on having a deep relationship with customers but we’re even more dialled in now to really finding those moments that matter for them and supporting them through any changes.” 

 

News

Grant Thornton leads sale of EB Charging to listed US group

Grant Thornton UK LLP’s Corporate Finance team has led the sale of fast-growing Electric Vehicle (EV) charging specialists EB Charging to US-based Blink Charging.

The deal, for up to $23.4m (£19.4m)., represents Blink Charging’s first step in the UK market. The Florida-based group, which is listed on the NASDAQ stock market, said the transaction would add 1,150 EV chargers to its global footprint, which now spans 18 countries.

Founded in 2015, St Albans-based Electric Blue Ltd, known widely as EB Charging, has grown rapidly, servicing over 80 customers, principally local authorities, NHS healthcare trusts, universities and fleets.

EB Charging’s diverse suite of Level 2 and DC fast products have been installed in over 40 towns and cities across the UK. Like Blink, EB Charging offers an owner-operator model, providing customers and partners with flexible, personalised and strategic business opportunities to achieve customer goals whether they want to own, partner with, or host their charging infrastructure.

Michael Farkas, Founder and CEO of Blink Charging said, “EB Charging is an established and well-known EV charging company with a proven track record of success. Blink will expand EB Charging’s product offerings to include new commercial and home chargers, new global network services and apps, and new EV fleet management tools. The acquisition will further solidify Blink’s goal of creating a seamless global experience for all EV charging customers.”

“Blink and EB Charging have a shared mission to advance EV charging through strategic owner-operator models that provide for greater flexibility and better outcomes. With the recent government incentives, EB Charging is the ideal business to integrate into the Blink umbrella.

“We’re excited to have a significant presence in an important market through this acquisition and play an integral role in helping the UK to achieve its electrification goals,” said Mr. Farkas.

The acquisition of EB Charging will allow Blink to tap into the opportunities for growth in this market and increase its footprint across Europe.

EB Charging Managing Director Alex Calnan said: “Blink’s experience, supply chain, and investment will enable us to install more charge ports, more quickly, serve more EV driving customers, and deliver on our commitment to customer excellence and innovation. Working with Blink, we can quickly and efficiently serve our current £12 million order book, significantly growing the EV charger footprint in the UK. Blink is a substantial business in the US and will continue to add tremendous value to its international acquisitions and partners. We are delighted to become part of the Blink family.”

Grant Thornton Corporate Partner Mike Tillson, who led the team said: “EB Charging is an outstanding entrepreneurial success story. Founded just seven years ago, it has developed fantastic IP and market position and is now well-placed to scale with the resources of a larger international; group behind it.

“Alex is a highly impressive individual and I thrilled for him in reaching this milestone in EB’s journey.

“At Grant Thornton we have a large automotive advisory team and are passionate about the move to net zero. We are immensely proud to have advised on this landmark deal in the UK market and wish Alex and his team every success in the future.

“We expect to see a lot more M&A and investment activity in this sector going forward, both in relation to companies that own EV charging infrastructure, but also the service providers who support them.”

The Grant Thornton team also included Doug Bentley, George Harvey and Andreas Caicedo.

Electric Vehicles, News

How EV Charging Stations Need to Evolve to Meet Market Demand

Written by Neset Yalcinkaya, VP of Products, Quectel

According to Berg Insight, there are expected to be around 23 million electric vehicle (EV) charging stations installed globally by the year 2025.

So, a dense charging station network is needed to keep the growing number of EVs on the road. The typical EV today has a range of anywhere from 100 miles to 520 miles, with most in the 200-300-mile range, according to an Insideevs report. While those ranges are fine for typical daily commuting needs, more extensive travel requires conveniently located EVs at appropriate locations on the road as well as at the home and office.  These stations do not only avoid issues such as running out of charge, but also combat “range anxiety”, the fear of running out of charge before the next charging station is reached.  Overcoming range anxiety is one of the major factors – outside of price – of consumers opting to replace their petrol/diesel vehicle with an EV when it’s time for a new one.

To meet this demand for EV charging stations, the providers – most of whom are private firms – will need to roll out both plug-in and wireless charging stations. The plug-in stations will primarily be used in the home and at certain office locations, while wireless charging stations will make the most sense for the publicly available charging stations.

Connectivity is the answer

These charging stations need reliable, fast connectivity in order to monitor meter usage and identify and bill users, collect vehicle ID information, charging volume, the status of the charge (SOC), the capacity of charging, and recharging current the charging point or pile ID and location information.

With connectivity, the provider can see all critical aspects of the charging station in real-time, which is even more important for EV charging stations than for the more traditional service stations.  Unlike traditional service stations, EV charging stations are unlikely to have attendants present. So, EV charging station providers will want to have immediate notification if a station isn’t working properly, goes down completely, or is the victim of attempted theft or vandalism.

Such connectivity can also provide communication advantages for potential users by informing them of locations of charging stations’ availability (charging times can be lengthy), as well as other important information.

There are several areas where there is the right existing technology and other infrastructure to provide this type of state-of-the-art connectivity. However, there are still several areas where providing such connectivity through a wired charging station would be too complex, costly, or would simply take too long to connect and test before going live with it, meaning lost revenue for the provider.

Wireless connectivity can help speed the rollout of these charging stations, enabling providers to meet the need more quickly.

Even if the provider chooses to deploy one or more plug-in charging stations, adding wireless connectivity, as well, provides an important backup if the wired connection fails for any reason.

In most of the UK, 4G – and in an increasing number of areas – 5G infrastructure already exists to provide fast, reliable connections for EV charging stations. Yet the EV market still faces some challenges.

Despite the positive forecast from Berg Insight and others for the EV market outlook, much of the growth will come near the end of the forecast period. Though EV sales have set records each of the last couple of years, the reality is that there are still relatively few on the road, so the current incentives to develop the market are low. Providers are looking at lengthy return-on-investment (ROI) times.

Shortening the ROI time provides the best path to profitability. Wireless connectivity does just that because it avoids adding the additional costs and time needed to install plug-in stations.

To obtain the best ROI in the shortest amount of time, EV charging station providers need wireless equipment compliant with global standards and that can communicate with all wireless carriers. The ability to minimise power consumption is also critical. Many of these stations sit dormant a large percentage of the time.

The hardware must also have integrated security features and architectures that allow developers to easily design new applications for consumers and providers alike, as well as antennas to ensure optimised, stable connections.

By deploying the right hardware to provide connectivity, providers can quickly meet the growing demand for EV charging stations while maximising their ROI.

Climate, News

Giving power to the consumer on the road to net-zero

Mike Woodhall, CEO, Chameleon Technology, argues that our homes’ energy management needs to move into the modern day. Just as technology and real-time, rich data has become mainstream in so many other aspects of our lives, we now need to apply it within our homes to make change seamless, easy and personal – if we are ever to reach net-zero. 

The way in which we engage with energy consumption within our homes has remained stuck in the dark ages whereas smart technology increasingly dominates most other aspects of our lives. For example, there is a huge divide between the car we have on the driveway and the property we live in. With the ability to tell us what our fuel consumption is; how many miles are left; when a service is needed; when tyres are at the wrong pressure; and to dynamically suggest route changes when an incident arises, our cars are underpinned by technology that makes it as simple as possible for us as consumers to run them as efficiently as possible.

The way we use energy in our homes will play a critical part in society’s path to net-zero, but by comparison, we are not as engaged and our homes provide little insight when it comes to energy usage. Whilst smart meters and In-Home-Displays (IHDs) are increasingly – and necessarily – present in homes, the data they provide is but the starting point for change. It remains today far too complex for the average consumer to truly take control of the carbon footprint of their own home.

Awareness but no control

Consumer awareness of net-zero and the environment is on the rise as various target dates for emission reductions loom large. With a huge drive to hit net-zero by 2050; ceasing the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2030; and a focus on the upcoming COP26, pressure is mounting for us all to play our part in reducing our carbon footprint. Increased awareness of climate change is leading to more sustainable life choices for many as reducing our personal environmental impact remains a key issue at the forefront of people’s minds. The pandemic has also led consumers to be more aware of the environmental impact of their actions, as well as making homeowners more conscious of outgoings – including rising bills. 

Despite this, consumers today have very little control in the move to net-zero. Thus far, the spotlight has been on large organisations and the Government whilst most of the general public have to observe from afar a conversation that has not involved or engaged with them. Consumers have been left with little ability, or knowledge, to contribute to the reduction of their own carbon footprint when it comes to one of the largest uses of energy: their homes. Whether consumers are motivated by sustainability, by saving money, or a combination of both, there is a lot to be gained from a reduction in energy consumption, or at the very least a refocus on how and when we are using our energy. In order to make a real impact in the journey to net-zero, consumers need to be given the information they need to take action to make a real difference. 

Increasing access to home energy data

Smart meters and IHDs are the starting point, giving consumers the access they need to their own, personal, real-time data on energy usage. The proliferation of dynamic, “time of use” tariffs will encourage consumers to use their knowledge of their energy data to adjust usage and therefore costs in real-time, so they can choose, for example, to switch on power hungry appliances at a time of day or night when prices are at their lowest and less carbon intense. But, is this enough? Getting out of bed at 2am when energy is cheaper to turn on an appliance is not a realistic or attractive option for many of us. Even with an app or the ability to pre-set, it still requires a lot of management and time. 

Currently, home energy data is too broad, providing little specific detail on an individual home and, more fundamentally, the behaviour of those within it, giving little insight for the consumer to make a decision on usage. A solution that takes the data from the IHD and gives it meaning – insights that are simple and personalised – is the next step in the quest to solve the problem for consumers. It must be accessible and affordable for all regardless of income, property size or type. And, critically, it needs to make decision-making effortless, automated and future-proof. 

Balancing supply and demand

Within the next few years, more major changes will be upon us – Electric Vehicles (EVs) will become the norm  and it is predicted that there will be approximately 15 million battery EVs on the road in the UK by 2035. Additionally, with the Government’s ambition to deliver 19 million heat pumps by 2050 and a ban on the installation of gas boilers in new build properties from 2025, the way our lives, and homes, run is going to fundamentally change. 

In parallel, the current volatility in the supply side of power, especially increasing gas prices and the susceptibility to disruption of international power links, has highlighted the need for a far more flexible and sustainable approach to our energy supply. 

As power increasingly comes from renewables we will need to be able to integrate local supply into the energy mix. EVs, heat pumps and other renewable sources will transform consumers from power users to potential power generators and suppliers, able to use these resources to both store energy and produce energy for the home, or indeed, sell it back to the grid. The demand-side and supply-side of power will change for good: any technology and data-led solution will have to be smart and flexible enough to keep up. 

What’s next for consumers? 

In the near future, we will be able to present a blend of real-time and historic data as insights, to be used by homeowners to make changes. We will be empowered to make more informed decisions on how to manage our energy. And, looking ahead, the use of apps can modernise this further still by connecting with other smart home technology to provide us with an understanding of which appliances are costing the most and how to balance this. For example, smart / connected appliances can be automatically switched on, EVs charged when prices are low – or even feed back to the home or grid when demand is high. 

Through the combined use of an app, data from IHDs and a consumer’s personal home energy usage, the way we manage our energy in our homes will be transformed. In much the same way as our cars give us the control and choice to help us run them as efficiently as possible, requiring minimal consumer input, it is only a matter of time before we have the capability to power our homes with the lowest environmental impact and lowest energy cost, whilst also helping to balance demand- and supply-side. 

Conclusion 

A revolution in home energy is coming, driven by the need to reach net-zero and the need to give control to the consumer so that we can make informed choices. The future of home energy is going to be dynamic, automated and intuitive. Whilst consumers begin to invest in EVs and switch to dynamic  tariffs, the use of technology and apps – and critically, the data behind those, for energy management will be key. It is vital we revolutionise our homes and put the power in the hands of consumers. 

News, South West

Wessex Garages launches £100k advertising campaign for electric vehicles

 Wessex Garages is launching its largest-ever multimedia campaign, worth £100k, to raise awareness of its new and used electric vehicle range: EVs for the everyman. Called “The Quiet Revolution”, the street art inspired campaign will span radio, TV and digital media platforms, and was created by creative marketing agency, Fiora. Wessex Garages has supplied fleets to the likes of OVO Energy, Octopus Energy, and a fleet of 500 cards to the public sector.

The campaign promotes Wessex Garages’ extensive electric vehicle range focusing on affordable electric vehicles as opposed to high-end, expensive models. New EV prices start from £23,000 and used EV’s start at £17,000 and cover a wide variety of brands and models such as a Kia, Nisan, Hyundai, both new and used. The business also offers an ‘extended test drive’ – 48 hours to get to know the car and how your new EV will fit into your day-to-day life.

The campaign includes a website landing page ‘electric car matcher’ functionality that provides useful information to users such as information on charging points, grants, new/used car searches etc. This Car Matcher function allows the customer to identify their current driving needs. Once the user completes all four questions, the matcher platform will provide the customer with an extensive range of electric and hybrid cars to test drive, which also fits in with their lifestyle.

The campaign will be on TV from 1st September on ITV and Sky ADSmart and aims to deliver 7.3m impacts/impressions to around 1.5m people in the region over the course of the campaign.

MD, Chris Wiseman, and his team are passionate about EVs and the future of EV technology. A driver of a Kia eNiro himself, Chris comments, “We’re incredibly excited about this campaign. There are so many misconceptions surrounding electric vehicles, and we want to play a big part in changing that, starting with addressing the cost.”

“As an EV driver myself, along with the rest of the management team, we know the extensive benefits of going electric, from its environmental impact to the fact they’re cheaper to run and service. We’re constantly inspired by our customer’s passion and knowledge about electric vehicles.

“With the increasing popularity of EVs and the 2030 ban on new fossil fuel vehicles fast approaching, we really wanted to put our marketing budget into something bold and different.”

Michael Brigdale, Creative Director at Fiora, adds, “The campaign was inspired by Wessex Garages’ own description of the electric vehicle trend as a ‘Silent Revolution’. We took that thought across all media with a distinctive and unusually quiet approach which really stands out in today’s noisy marketing landscape.”

News

Pure-EV move to Wharfebank Mills after successful year

Pure-EV, installers of electric vehicle charging points, recently moved offices to Wharfebank Mills, Otley, after their most successful year to date. The office move will allow them to further expand their business and make way for new staff.

2020 brought many challenges to businesses across the region, including those in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. Pure-EV engineers work in homes to install domestic charging stations, as well as in office buildings so had to adapt to new safety regulations in a hugely different economic climate. Despite the challenges, they experienced their most successful year yet.

Their engineers across West Yorkshire and the UK installed over 1500 charging points in homes and businesses, a record-breaking number for the company. Thanks to this success, they hired five new office staff members and six new engineers so as to install even more charging stations in 2021.

“We’re delighted to move into Wharfebank Mills where we have the space to continue recruiting and expanding our business in 2021,” Dominic Barrow, Managing Director at Pure-EV, said.

The move is particularly significant for the company directors. “My grandparents worked in the North England Mills so it’s exciting to now be operating from one of the recycled mill buildings.”

Pure-EV expects that with their new staff, and the recent news regarding the banning of fossil-fuel car sales, their 2020 success will only continue into this new year.