Capitalising on the EV market

Successful businesses are built on recognising – and capitalising on – market opportunity. It’s about the right products, in the right place, and at the right time. Here, Mark Smith, Operations Director at Sevadis, one of the UK’s fastest growing suppliers of electric vehicle charging products, highlights the opportunity that rapid growth in this market presents to contractors of all sizes.

Although initial take up of EV technology was relatively slow, in 2021, annual registrations exceeded 300,000 and there are now nearly 750,000 EVs on UK roads. This growth is due to a number of factors.

Car manufacturers recognised the market need and potential. They are continuing to add to their ranges with a wider variety of electric vehicles at more affordable price points. The efficiency, performance and range of these vehicles is improving all the time and at a rapid rate. Finally, the Government’s decision to bring forward the ban on petrol and diesel vehicles from 2040 to 2030 has also helped to contribute to the growth of the EV market.

Although electric vehicle sales are on the upward trajectory, many people do have a degree of hesitancy caused by range anxiety. Firstly: ‘Is there sufficient charge in the battery to get me from A to B?’ and secondly: ‘How easy will it be to find a charging point?’

The Government’s infrastructure pledge

The Government responded in 2019 with the unveiling of a £1.3 billion EV charging infrastructure commitment. This was followed with a £20 million funding scheme designed to support EV innovation. Then, in November last year it was announced that legislation will be introduced, requiring EV charging points to be installed on all new buildings with parking spaces, including offices, shops and residential properties.

Despite this investment, as of the beginning of March 2022, there were just under 30,000 EV chargers in the UK. Currently only one new charger is being installed for every 52 new electric vehicles registered. According to the government’s independent statutory advisor, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), new installations will have to surpass that number every year if the country is to have the estimated 280,000 charge points that will be required by 2030.

On 25 March 2022, the Government announced its long awaited EV Infrastructure Strategy with a pledge to increase the UK’s EV charge points 10-fold, improve the consumer’s experience of charge points and support those without off-street parking. This strategy reinforces the Government aim to provide a robust charging network in the UK.

It has committed a £500m investment in high quality, competitively priced public charge points. This is made up of £450m for a Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund for local authorities to help expand charge points in their area, with the remaining £50m to be used to fund staff to work on local challenges and planning for public charge points. Each local council will be able to bid for a share of £10m under the LEVI.

This latest announcement is welcome news indeed and presents a wealth of opportunity for electrical contractors. A huge number of EV charging points will need to be supplied and installed over the coming decades. The question then becomes – what’s the right product?

Fit for purpose now and in years to come

There is a wide range of EV chargers available within the market so it’s important to gain an understanding of the key differentiators of these products and how they benefit both you as the installer and your customer.

One of the first considerations is Tethered or Socket. Tethered chargers have an integrated cable, which makes it a convenient choice, since it is not necessary to retrieve the car’s charging cable from the boot each time. However, not all electric vehicles have the same inlet socket and therefore may be unable to use the cable attached. In addition, some customers may not want to have cable wrapped around a hook or lying on the floor, as it has the potential to look untidy or cause a trip hazard.

For greater flexibility, a socket option is ideal. It can be used with any manufacturer’s vehicles and ensures the space surrounding the charger is kept tidy and safe. In addition, should a customer change their vehicle, a universal product such as Sevadis’ MaxiCharger means that they don’t need to change the charger too.

Another consideration is power capacity, and is the EV charger fit for purpose? For this, it’s important to consider the system’s requirements in terms of the EVs that will be using the charge point. For example, Sevadis’ single outlet MaxiCharger has a charging capacity of up to 7.4kW on a single-phase connection and 11kW or 22kW on a three-phase connection.

Ease of install

Each installation will have differing requirements from where the charger needs to be installed to what electrical infrastructure exists. For this, a product that is simple to install in a wide range of building types is key. Look for manufacturers that offer a diverse product portfolio with both wall or pedestal mounted options, along with 4G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and ethernet connectivity.

Worthy of note is the IET Wiring Regulations 18th Edition (BS 7671), which requires a dedicated earth rod or Protective Multiple Earthings (PME) fault detection device to be fitted alongside the EV charger. This is to ensure the safety of users in the event of a neutral failure on installations. Some EV chargers, such as MaxiCharger, have a PME fault detection built in – this removes the need for an earth rod or separate monitoring device altogether, simplifying the installation process, which ultimately saves time and money for the contractor.

Flexibility in compatibility

One of the main challenges with EV chargers is the compatibility between the hardware and the software platforms used for management and billing.

Products that are Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) 1.6 compliant, such as MaxiCharger, can be used with a wide range of management software solutions. As a contractor, this allows you to give your customers maximum choice whilst also ensuring their EV charger investment is future-proofed.

Alongside this, look for other features that can help improve the user’s experience, such as products with integrated smart dynamic load balancing (DLB). This will automatically regulate the power drawn by the EV chargers to prevent overloads and power shortages. It will also ensure a fair distribution of the available power, which is essential at times of peak demand.

Take advantage of training and support

It is also important to consider the technical support offered by a manufacturer, particularly as each project will have its own specific challenges and requirements. As specialists in EV technology, the wraparound service that Sevadis provides will make this a particularly appealing solution for contractors.

To start with, all EV chargers are supplied with an industry-leading three-year warranty. In addition, Sevadis offers full support for contractors, with expert guidance on design, specification and installation, including free site surveys if required. The company can also provide product training on every charging solution in the Sevadis range to ensure that its contractor partners are in a position to deliver best practice service to their own customers.

Sevadis’ experience has also enabled the company to develop the Sevadis Cloud, an online management platform that EV charging point owners can use to track, charge and bill use of electricity from charging points. It allows different tariffs to be set for different groups, sockets or users, and gives instant visibility of how many end users have charged their vehicles, how long each charge has been for, the amount of electricity used and payment required.

Demand for electric vehicles is set to grow exponentially over the coming years, and this represents a clear opportunity for electrical contractors to develop their business by offering EV charge point installation services.

With Sevadis you are choosing the right product from a leading company who can offer the level of support necessary to help you realise the full potential of this new area. To find out more about Sevadis and MaxiCharger visit sevadis.com, email: customerservice@sevadis.com or call on: 0330 058 7144.

Our powerful, cost-effective single-socket EV charger.

What is the MaxiCharger?

The MaxiCharger is a single-outlet, universal Type 2 socket charger. It is OCPP 1.6 compliant, has dynamic load balancing built-in and incorporates PME fault detection. It is available in three attractive finishes: silver, black or white. The MaxiCharger is robust, aesthetically pleasing and suitable for all environments. It charges up to 7.4 kW on a single-phase connection and 11/22 kW on a three-phase connection.

MaxiCharger key features

3.7 kW - 22 kW Single-socket or tethered Type 2 charger PME fault detection incorporated Single-phase and three-phase connection Wall and floor-mounted solutions OCPP 1.6 compliant Smart App or Cloud management software Dynamic and active load balancing options Black, silver or white fascia