Electric vehicles are transforming transportation, but their growth hinges on accessible charging infrastructure. Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint, discusses the hurdles of installing chargers in flats and multi-storey housing, the impact of limited off-road parking on adoption, and how ChargePoint’s innovations, such as smart power sharing and scalable AC chargers, are driving affordable, sustainable solutions for urban and residential settings.
What are the primary challenges that have historically made installing EV charging infrastructure in flats and multi-storey housing difficult, and how is ChargePoint addressing these obstacles?
Installing charging infrastructure in communal parking spaces can be difficult, given that landlords must plan ahead, provide upfront investments and determine how many chargers can be installed without overloading the local electricity grid. For older buildings, legacy electrical components add another layer of complexity.
ChargePoint is addressing these challenges by offering affordable, efficient charging solutions designed to meet the needs of landlords and property managers. By offering Level 2 AC chargers, ChargePoint is helping reduce the cost of initial installations, improving EV charging accessibility. Additionally, ChargePoint’s robust software simplifies administration and enhances the user experience for both landlords and drivers. This software collects and distributes direct driver payments, making financial transactions easier.
Our software also allows for smart power sharing, which enables multiple EVs to charge at one or more stations, safely and in line with the local electricity provider. Each user pays for their own energy usage, which benefits drivers and property managers by removing administrative burdens.
How does the lack of off-road parking for 44% of UK homes impact EV adoption, and what strategies can property developers and owners employ to mitigate this issue?
Particularly for EV drivers without driveways, the lack of off-road residential parking underscores the need for more charging infrastructure in public places like roadsides, or in semi-public places like residential buildings, to ensure all EV drivers can charge when and where they need to.
Drivers want to charge in locations that are convenient for them, like their homes or workplaces. In these settings, vehicles are often parked for extended periods, and it therefore makes good business sense to install charging solutions where drivers are stationary for long durations. Level 2 chargers are the most cost-effective to install, and can make this a viable investment.
Moreover, installing chargers in the workplace can help meet the growing demand for ‘green perks’, also known as sustainable employee benefits. As highlighted in the recent Autumn Budget, the UK government will continue to maintain lower tax rates on EVs, meaning that more businesses may consider providing EVs as company cars. Workplace charging will become an attractive amenity that supports sustainable employee benefits such as electric company cars. By seizing these opportunities, property owners can contribute significantly to the broader adoption of EVs.
Can you elaborate on how ChargePoint’s smart management software optimises power sharing and prevents overloading electrical services in multi-tenant housing?
ChargePoint’s software is built with power sharing capabilities, which means landlords can add incremental stations without overloading the location’s electrical service. Our software uses algorithms to share power among charging stations depending on the level of charge on each vehicle, ensuring that each charges as quickly as possible.
To illustrate, if three charging stations share a single 80-amp (A) circuit, the first vehicle to connect draws the full available power. As more vehicles connect, each continues to draw full power until the configured power limit is reached. Once this limit is hit, the Power Management algorithm evenly distributes the remaining power among all connected vehicles. If a vehicle disconnects or completes charging, the power it was using is reallocated equally among the remaining connected vehicles. This means that multiple tenants can benefit from fewer chargers without upgrading the building’s existing electrical service.
What specific technologies or innovations make AC chargers an affordable and scalable solution for flats, and how does this compare to other charging solutions?
AC chargers are smaller and less expensive to use than DC chargers. They are the most appropriate and cost-effective option for long stay locations such as flats, hotels or the workplace, as they charge over a longer period of time.
Comparatively, DC charging points charge up vehicles more rapidly, primarily serving the use case of when a driver is driving beyond his or her battery range. In this scenario, DC charging solutions are most suitable in public places such as motorways, city centres, supermarkets and retail car parks where customers stay for a shorter amount of time.
With the UK government’s commitment to EV incentives, such as low company car tax rates, how do you see the demand for EV infrastructure evolving in urban residential settings?
The EV market in the UK is already well into the tens of billions and is showing no signs of slowing down, particularly considering government incentives such as lower company car tax rates. By 2024, the UK EV market is forecast to hit US$34.0 billion (£26.9 billion), with an even bigger climb to US$51.3 billion (£40.6 billion) projected by 2029. Thanks to the Chancellor’s EV tax perks and ongoing improvements in urban charging infrastructure, more UK residents are likely to feel at ease opting for an EV, both financially and practically.
As charging options continue to grow in cities, people will have more opportunity to charge their vehicles overnight at home or work, in addition to public charging locations. As EVs continue to gain market share and businesses lease more EVs as company cars, property owners will continue to see increased demand for on-site charging stations—a prime market opportunity they should be keen to seize.