Hubsta Magazine - April Issue by elmtronics

Ap r i l 2 02 1 MAGAZINE

The all-electric magazine, brought to you by Elmtronics

Real rEViews Tesla Model 3

Top EVs 2021 Commercial Vans

our leaf life We get a glimpse of what real LEAF life is like with Lyndsey Hetherington

SUSTAINABILITY GURU John Curtis speaks to us about his life as a sustainability storyteller

ELECTRIFYING THE FORECOURT

A look at the world’s first all-electric forecourt

ELECTRIC INSIGHTS

We bring you charging guides and EV statistics from around the UK

“With Hubsta you're always in control”

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Connecting to charge points Europe-wide; it’s never been easier to manage your electric vehicle fleet infrastructure in one place.

www.hubsta.co.uk

WELCOME

hello. What a huge pleasure it is to welcome you all to the brand-new, revamped, Hubsta Magazine and the first edition of 2021. Over the past year, Elmtronics has grown significantly and with that so has the team bringing you this latest edition of Hubsta Magazine. Our new team is made up of a few good eggs from the marketing department who have been very excited to get this issue out to you. Inside you will find everything EV, from industry news, to reviews and opinion pieces; our hope for this fresh approach to Hubsta Magazine is that you will find it both informative and entertaining. We will be bringing you a new issue every four months and would love to keep you coming back for more! Enjoy reading, Alex & Chantel

MAGAZINE

CONTENTS

18 20

6 7 8

Ones to Watch 2021 We take a look at the GF100 list & pick some stars for 2021

Pulling the Plug on EV Grants? A brief overview of the OZEVs recent announcement Top Commercial EVs 2021 Take a look a selection of commercial EVs available

10 12 14

Our LEAF Life Lyndsey shares her EV experience with us

Let’s Talk Leasing Find out more information on charge point leasing A Decade of Change Anya Bramich talks with us about her EV career

16 18 20

Infrastructure in the UK An overview of the UK’s Electric Forecourt first Top EVs 2021 A pick of the best domestic EVs of 2021 Sustainability Guru We had the pleasure of chatting to John Curtis

CONTENTS Editor & Project Lead Chantel Gray Editor Alexandra Chapman Art Editor Chantel Gray Head of Marketing David Cook

With special thanks to our contributors: Anya Bramich, John Curtis, Natasha Fry, Lyndsey Hetherington.

22 24 25

Real rEViews David Cook reviews the Tesla Model 3 Case study We take a look at Pentagon Motor Group

Electric Insights The latest stats from around the UK

All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction in whole or in part (digital or print) is prohibited without the written permission of the publisher. This magazine is not to be sold. Every effort has been made to secure permission for copyright material. In the event of any material being used inadvertently, or where it proved impossible to trace the copyright owner, acknowledgement will be made in a future issue of the magazine. Curated images of all vehicles have been sourced from manufacturers own webistes. Stock imagery has been downloaded on liscence from envato.com. The publisher welcomes contributions from readers using the email address marketing@elmtronics.co.uk. All such contributions and submissions to the magazine are sent to and accepted by the publisher on the basis of a non-exclusive transferable worldwide license unless otherwise agreed in writing prior to first publication. Such submissions are also subject to being used, reproduced, modified, published, edited, translated, distributed and displayed in any media or medium, or any form, format or forum now known or hereafter developed, for any purpose, in perpetuity. The views expressed herein are not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. While every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publisher cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information or any event or consequence arising as a result of the information. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any resulting unsatisfactory transactions but will investigate any written complaints.

2021 ONES TO WATCH

2021 ones to watch We take a look at GreenFleets 100 Most Influencial list and pick out some rising stars in the electric vehicle industry for 2021, incase you missed it.*

#63

GAVIN JONES Head of Fleet Corporate Service & Supply, Volkswagen Financial Services Volkswagen Financial Service have been making strides to simplify fleets transitioning to EVs, offering new leasing packages that covers the full life cycle of the car. This new package benefits not only the first owner but also the used buyer and retailer.

PAUL NICHOLLS Managing Director, Nicholls Transport Following their Private Sector Fleet of the Year (S-M) award win, Paul Nicholls is one of Greenfleets New Entry’s. His commitment to reducing emissions across his fleet is paving the way for other fellow haulers to follow.

#80

TANYA NEECH Sustainability Officer, Scania GB Scania has set itself the challenge of moving to a more sustainable transport system by 2025. As Tanya is responsible for all areas of sustainability at the company, it is her mission to guide and support them with this strategy; the main focus of 2021 being the delivery of Scania’s electric truck.

HELEN LEES Head of Fleet Operations, UK – Peugeot, Citroën & DS Helen bumped up the GF100 list this year and with 14-years of experience, she’s worked across several areas in her industry. In 2020, as Head of Electric Vehicles at Groupe PSA, she helped steer the rollout of BEVs and PHEVs, and was responsible for heading up new connected and mobility services. Helen now takes the lead as Head of Fleet Operations at Stellantis.

#98

#67 *You can see the full list here.

OZEV ANNOUNCEMENT

ozev grant

pulling the plug? Elmtronics CEO, Dan Martin, comments on the recent UK Government announcement that as of 18th March 2021, the Government’s plug-in car grant has been cut by £500.

n an announcement made in March 2021, the government said the grant criteria has been revised; previously vehicles up to £50,000 qualified, this has now been cut to £35,000. Since Boris Johnson’s 10-point Green Industrial Revolution plans were released at the end of 2020, Elmtronics have witnessed many announcements in the EV and motoring industry. Today (18th March 2021) the UK Government has revised the plug-in grant, reducing the payment to £2,500 and dropping the qualifying criteria to electric vehicles up to £35,000. This new update for the grant scheme will also affect vans and trucks - often those vehicles that are most needed needed for the commercial market. Many have called the move hasty; some have welcomed the move in hopes it will incentivise a reduction in new EV prices. The Department for Transport (DfT) has supported these changes by claiming the amount of electric cars that cost less than £35,000 has increased by almost 50 per cent since 2019, giving the drivers of the UK plenty of choice when choosing their next car; however has

The full announcement details can be found here.

enough thought been put into what this means for the commercial market? Dan Martin commented, “The government grant has been a huge asset to the EV market over the years, converting hesitant drivers to enthusiastically purchase plug-in electric vehicles. This announcement today has clearly shaken the industry and ruffled people’s feathers. Two possible outcomes could be; car manufacturers will be forced to push down their prices to align with the 2030 ban, resulting in an increase in EV sales, or the reduction in the grant will turn off those who were looking to make the switch sooner. We have always believed that educating people on the benefits of moving towards an electrified future is one of the most important aspects of being in this industry, and we will continue to make every effort to do so.” Last year the plug-in vehicle grant scheme was renewed with £582m of funding to last till 2023.

EV’S OF 2021

2021 commercial ev’s

our top picks

If you’re a business owner or work in a trade that requires a van to do the job, you may be wondering what’s available for when you eventually make the switch. Here are a few commercial vehicles that we think will do just the job!

RENAULT ZOE VAN The ZOE Van has a range of 245 miles with it’s 50kWh battery, helping make that range anxiety a thing of the past. This all-new EV from Renault is the UK’s only 100% electric car-derived van. The interior is clean and simple, designed with comfort in mind. There’s a large display screen on the front dashbord, but the technology inside this van doesn’t feel like overkill. The generous space at the back allows for great storage room to transport your cargo. The ZOE Van is a perfect car/van crossover.

LEVC VN5 Our top pick commerical vehicle has to be this latest EV from London Electric Vehicle Company. Modelled on the London Taxicab this newest offering poses some impressive features and technology. The rear wheels are driven by an electric motor, while the 31kW battery is supported by a petrol range-extender, allowing for flexibility. The VN5 has been cleverly adapted to work in three different drive modes: Pure EV, Save mode and Smart mode; designed for further efficiency. Externally it still closely resembles the London Cab from the front, with a traditional side-sliding door at the back. It also features that great turning circle (10.1m) to navigate difficult streets and busy roads. And with it’s data collection technology, it offers valuable insight into driving behaviour, productivity and economy of your fleet.

OUR PICK

EV’S OF 2021

CITROEN e-BERLINGO This multi-award winning van is now avaialable as a fully-electric vehicle: the ë-Berlingo Van. With it’s 100kW electric motor and 50kWh battery, this van is ideal for businesses everywhere; cities and rural. The compact van joins as the Citroen ‘ë’ family as the smallest member, alognside the ë-Dispatch (medium) and what will be the largest member, the ë-Relay. Available for purchase in the UK at the end of 2021, we’d encourage you all to keep your eyes out for this one!

MERCEDES eSPRINTER Efficient and reliable, the Mercedes eSprinter is designed for hard work, connectivity and safety. It comes with both rapid and fast charging options, with a combined range of 96 miles. The interior has been designed to be both comfortable and convenient, without over-complicated and unnecessary gadgets. With free integrated vehicle monitoring software you’re able to remotely manage security, organise schedules and map out the most efficient routes - saving your business both time and money. Overall, if you want a van that’s robust, costeffective and sustainable, this is the right EV for you!

MAXUS E DELIVER 3 Another of the larger electric vans on the market for 2021, the Maxus e Deliver 3 uses aerodynamic principles to both reduce wind resistance and lighten the entire vehicle. This van is one that will ‘get the job done’ hosting a mix of uncomplicated features such as; 2 driving modes, energy recovery modes, dual rear barn doors and much more. Internally the design is simple and resemebles your classic large van with ease of use and convenience at the heart. The e DELIVER 3 comes with a 90kW/250Nm motor, AC/DC charging options and a choice of 35Kw or 52.5Kw battery configurations.

LIVING WITH AN EV

OUR LEAF life Electric vehicles are the future – soon we’ll all be looking to make the switch, but what is life like owning an electric car? We checked in with Lyndsey Hetherington, Associate Consultant at Elmtronics, to find out more about her experience of living with an EV.

yndsey has been zooming around the roads since she first passed her driving test in 2009, but it wasn’t until six years ago when she joined Elmtronics, that she had her first taste of driving electric. Fast-forward to 2021, Lyndsey drives a first-generation Nissan LEAF. When asked about how she came to her decision she replied, “It took a long time to find what we were looking for – it was hard to find a good EV at the time. We bought [the LEAF] second-hand, four years ago and chose it purely on what we could afford, but I did also quite like the style too; now I’ve grown to love it”. More recently, a plug-in hybrid BMW 330e was added to her family’s EV collection. They invested in the BMW

for those longer trips; “Since having our son we didn’t feel brave enough to drive to places such as the Lake District in our LEAF. Although the BMW only gives us around 10-18 miles on electric (weather depending) it’s great for longer journeys and holidays. We also look for chargers to use when we reach our destination and we love the performance of the car and its sporty look.” The choice to make the switch from ICE to EV was simply, “to save money on petrol”. At the time, the Mini Cooper S was her car of choice which needed to be refilled on an almost weekly basis, costing £40 to fill the tank each time. Lyndsey continued, “to go from that, to [instead spending] around an additional £50pm on my electric bill, was a huge difference and because I knew we had chargers at work, that ultimately decided it for me.”

LIVING WITH AN EV “Pulling up at home and plugging in is super easy, it just becomes a habit; I’m also able to set times to begin charging using an app. I can even pre-condition the heating in my car each morning whilst it’s plugged in - I don’t use any range and it’s really toasty to get into.” Lyndsey generally sticks to the same places on trips out in her EV but says even when she takes longer trips, she’s never concerned about running out of power – she simply plans ahead. “That’s my top tip; plan ahead. I’ve never been caught out because I don’t let myself be, I don’t want that range anxiety. Oh, and I use Zap-Map.” When thinking about their future and electric journey, Lyndsey hopes to be a household of two pure electric vehicles - something with better range than the LEAF. At the moment the plug-in hybrid is the vehicle choice for longer family trips, but Lyndsey would love to upgrade this and says that “Of course, a Tesla is the ultimate EV dream”. Chris, Lyndsey’s husband, is a self-proclaimed ‘petrol head’ and lover of fast cars. Chris wasn’t too keen on the “whole electric car thing” at first but now finds himself hopping into the LEAF to travel to work every day. Lyndsey says driving their EV has completely converted him and even believes he’s now more passionate about electric cars than she is! Day to day, they find driving their EV extremely enjoyable and say they would never consider going back to driving a traditional ICE vehicle. When talking about how she found driving her EV, Lyndsey said, “It’s so much fun to drive, super easy and feels safer! There’s nothing worse than getting caught short at a roundabout and fumbling about changing gears. In an EV you know if you need to put your foot down, you have instant power...sometimes a little too much!

When sharing her dream of being a pure electric car household with other family members, Lyndsey was surprised at the negativity she received. “We always talk to family about it, but some older members still need a little convincing. All I ask them is, ‘how many miles do you drive on a daily/weekly basis?’ A lot of people are quick to disregard pure electric due to assuming that they may travel to London once a year to see a family member and the range is just not good enough or there are not enough charge points. Every circumstance is different but don’t be too quick to disregard pure electric just because you think it won’t work for you - do the maths.”

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Every circumstance is different but don’t be too quick to disregard pure electric just because you think it won’t work for you - do the maths

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I always compare it to a go-kart, press to go, brake to stop.” She added, “The little mod cons are fab too; I was surprised that the older LEAF still has really good technology inside.” At home, Lyndsey has an ABB charger and says she feels lucky that she’s able to charge overnight adding that if you can get one, it’s a must-have. Initially, Lyndsey didn’t have a charger at home but was safe in the knowledge that she could charge at work while she waited for her own to be fitted.

It was great to hear first-hand from Lyndsey how she finds life with an EV and her experience of home charging. If you would like to learn more about home charging solutions from Elmtronics, visit elmtronics.co.uk or call 0191 417 3719. 11

LEASING A CHARGER

let’s talk leasing Many businesses are looking at making the transition to electric vehicles, and with that comes the headache of charging. Business owners can now lease EV charging solutions rather than purchasing outright, making the cost of infrastructure a little less frightening. 12

LEASING A CHARGER

ith only nine years until the 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars, sales in pure electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have skyrocketed. Year to date figures published by The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that BEV sales have increased by 54.4% and PHEVs by 28% compared to 2020 figures. These cars however need chargers, which is an unwelcome further upfront cost for UK motorists. For businesses, the prospect of transitioning their company fleet to EVs translates to multiple charge points needing to be fitted to keep their employees on the road. This would be a larger cost to the business with many companies considering home chargers as well as workplace chargers for their employees. At Elmtronics we have helped various businesses transition to an all EV fleet and installed chargers at their offices. Something that businesses may not know is, much like buying a new EV through leasing it, you can also lease the charger. A service we can offer at Elmtronics, leasing your charge points isn’t any different from any other leasing deal, we can discuss your requirements with you, we work with our third-party finance team to arrange the terms, simply sign the contract and we arrange your installation date.

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At Elmtronics we supply state of the art charge points for businesses and individuals, ensuring the highest quality charging infrastructure

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At Elmtronics we supply state of the art charge points for businesses and individuals, ensuring the highest quality charging infrastructure available to our customers. The ability to lease these charge points ensures accessibility to this equipment without the upfront cost. For ease of use to our customers, at Elmtronics we offer a comprehensive package with all our installs. As well as the charging hardware we offer, setup, training, maintenance fees all included with your lease agreement. An example of our charge point packages include: » AC EV charging equipment (hardware) » DC EV charging equipment (hardware) » Mounting posts & prefabricated bases » Accessories, e.g., cables » Back office & management via the Hubsta network » Installation

The cost-effective solution has multiple benefits such as: » Leasing agreements from 12-60 months for your convenience. » No impact on existing credit lines. » VAT is charged on smaller payments as opposed to one large payment at the start of your agreement. » Your initial price will remain fixed throughout your lease agreement. » Tax is 100% deductible at the end of each financial year, due to rentals being an operating expense. » Payments are fixed throughout your plan, so your monthly price will never increase. » Leasing doesn’t affect any existing credit lines. » One rental can include all equipment and ancillary costs i.e., consultancy, installation, training and maintenance. » Option to upgrade, make changes or settle your lease agreement at any time. » Flexibility at the end of your lease agreement, including indefinite ownership of the EV charging equipment. Funding from the government’s Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) grant is also available, offering a saving of up to £350 per socket.

Elmtronics are proud to be an approved installer under the Workplace Charging Scheme so all you need to do is get in contact with us and we can take care of the rest! Email sales@elmtronics.co.uk. 13

A DECADE OF CHANGE

a decade of change

with anya bramich Elmtronics’ Key Projects Manager, Anya Bramich, has been working in the industry for the last ten years. She talks to us about how the industry has changed and how 2021 could be the year for the electric car. no idea whether they would be used as there were very few electric cars on the roads. Back then it was a choice between the Mitsubishi iMiev / Peugeot iOn or the Nissan LEAF. When did you begin to see things change for the better? I think it’s been small steps over the years. There hasn’t been one thing that has spurred a massive change, more it’s been an accumulation of things. From wider consumer choice (there are now over 100 different makes and models on the market), a growing national charge point network (over 22,000 charge points in the UK) through to a range of Government initiatives. Incentives such as the extension of the Plug-in-car grant, changes in benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax which has made it a lot more appealing for businesses to switch as well as growing consumer knowledge have all made a difference. Saying that on a personal level, I knew we were finally getting somewhere when all of a sudden I was getting LinkedIn requests from some major players - especially from people working in the petrol industry. That’s when I really thought people were beginning to take notice.

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I knew we were finally getting somewhere when all of a sudden I was getting LinkedIn requests from some major players

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So tell us, what did the industry look like when you first started out in 2011? It really was unrecognisable from where we are now. When I first started out, I was working on a longforgotten project called Plugged in Places, which was the Government’s pilot programme to build charge point networks. Back then we were installing 3kW charge points - because that was the standard at the time - and although rapid charging was being discussed there were no viable equipment on the market. We were installing charge points and we had

Would you say 2021 is the year of the electric car? I think we’ve been waiting for the tipping point and hoping it would come for many years but there’s definitely some really positive signs for 2021. Manufacturers are making big commitments on boosting their electric credentials with major investments into production. Sales are also growing - last year we saw record figures for EV sales - with one in ten cars bought being electric. With the

A DECADE OF CHANGE

government’s commitment that sales of new petrol and diesel cars will end by 2030 this is only going to get better as businesses and individuals begin to worry about the residual values of purchasing new petrol and diesel cars. Added to this, continued investments into infrastructure means that consumer confidence will continue to grow. What do you think still needs to be done to encourage others to switch to electric? I live in a terraced house so this is my own personal crusade but I do think we need to crack the charging solution for me and so many others like me that live in terraced housing, flats and apartments. The government’s on-street residential charge point scheme is going some way to address that but we’re not there yet. There are some EV owners in my street and they fight over the three charge points nearby and that’s not sustainable for mass adoption. Continued support for the electrification of fleets, and in particular delivery fleets, is also going to be critical. We’ve all seen a massive increase in the number of delivery vans on our roads over the last year and companies need to be incentivised to go electric.

there’s lots out there and EV drivers are amongst the most enthusiastic people I have ever met. Speak to anyone when they’re plugging in at a charge point and you’ll be there for hours and be completely persuaded. We have to ask, do you drive an electric car and if yes, which one? I was lucky enough to work for a company that had a number of Nissan LEAF as part of their fleet so I got the opportunity to drive one of the very first Japanese models that came to the UK for many years. Shamefully though, I am currently driving a petrol mini and that is mainly due to the lack of charging near home. Joining Elmtronics will change that as we have free charging at work so I have got my eye on an electric Mini. This is one reason why workplace charging is such an important part in the charge point mix. For any business out there who are looking to reduce their carbon emissions, providing charging for staff is a step that could make the difference to so many people.

The future is electric and we can’t wait to see what the next decade of innovation and progression will bring us!

What would you say to anyone thinking about switching to an EV? Think about the type of mileage you do now; most people completely overestimate how far they drive and could feasibly do most daily journeys on the range of even the smallest battery cars. With so many rapid charge points available now, driving long distances is also completely manageable with a bit of planning. I’d also say talk to EV drivers or join an EV forum,

ELECTRIC FORECOURT

electric forecourt® Introducing the world’s first all-electric forecourt; a revolutionary all-in-one charging facility, brought to reality by the brilliant minds at GRIDSERVE.

RIDSERVE is a sustainable energy company that endeavours to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, by developing and building low cost, clean energy solutions for power infrastructure.

The Electric Forecourt® boasts a total of 36 chargers - a mixture of DC & AC chargers, and holds the infrastructure that can provide fast, clean energy for everything from motorbikes to HGV’s.

In 2020, GRIDSERVE opened up the world’s first all-electric ‘refuelling’ station - Braintree Electric Forecourt®, in Essex. The development has been revolutionary and further proof that electric vehicles are the future.

Now one of the banes of electric car charging is the hanging about while you wait for your car to charge, but to eliminate that, GRIDSERVE have seemingly thought of everything. There is a kids zone that offers entertainment and education; a gym that enables you

ELECTRIC FORECOURT charging network there is much to do to bring EV to the masses. In order to deliver sustainable energy and move the needle on climate change, these actions are of vital importance.” Natasha Fry, Associate Consultant at Elmtronics visited the Forecourt and commented on her experience: “I made it my mission to be one of the first to experience the Electric Forecourt®. Having only had my Tesla for a few weeks, of course I had to take it along; I was so intrigued with the concept. It [the forecourt] was busy but not conjested. There are Tesla Superchargers, the ABB DC chargers ranging from 120kW and the ABB 22kW fast chargers. A complete service offering in my opinion for “en route” charging. It was convenient, quick and easy to use with plenty of space outdoors to sit and enjoy the coffee I’d bought from the main service area. I was impressed with the complete consideration for social distancing. I loved the upper floor, where I could see meeting breakout rooms available for hire, making sure efficiencies are available for those who want to hold meetings whilst charging. A true revolutionary experience and I cannot wait to see more of these across the UK. It makes it all the more relevant to me as I see our partner for DC equipment, ABB, involved in the GRIDSERVE proposition - trusted, reliable charging equipment”

to generate electricity while you go for a spin on one of their sports bikes; and a coffee shop and retail store if you fancy a bit of shopping while you recharge! Here’s what Sam Clarke, Chief Vehicle Officer at GRIDSERVE had to say about the journey, from vision to completion, and what the future holds for GRIDSERVE and the Electric Forecourt. “Having been in post at GRIDSERVE for little over a year the rate of growth and progression has been staggering. The vision that was set out over 2 years ago for a state of the art Electric Forecourt and what was ultimately delivered, is so close to the visionary digital designs, it’s hard to tell the difference between concept and the real thing. This however is just part of the overall ‘Sun-to-Wheel’ legacy we are looking to achieve from solar generation to battery storage through to charging infrastructure. With over 100 Electric Forecourts underway over the next 5 years as well as the mass upgrade of the service station

You can visit the forecourt retail store every day from 7am-8pm and charge 24/7, 7 days a week: GRIDSERVE Electric Forecourt, Edison Way, Great Notley, Essex, CM77 7AP 17

EV’S OF 2021

2021 electric vehicles

our top picks

2021 is going to be a huge year for electric cars, but with so many possible new models which ones are realy going to be the big stars? We had a peruse of the EV market and collected a few top picks of 2021 for you.

CITROEN AMI ONE Too weird not to cover in a forward-looking article on 2021 EVs, the Ami One is hopefully not just another concept destined not to materialise. Aptly named as a two-seater (Ami means friend in French) ergo ‘One Friend’; this car is so small it could technically be driven by 16-year-olds in the UK and fits nicely into the subscription economy model. With QR code access as standard, it’s designed as a city car to be rented in much the same way as the many colourful bike schemes littering out streets (and canals). Hopefully these quirky and fun cars don’t end up with the same fate.

SKODA ENYAQ Q. Why do Skoda’s have heated rear windscreens? A. To keep your hands warm while pushing them! This is the kind of joke that was popular through the 90’s as Skoda struggled with reliability issues. With a bit of help from parent company VW, today couldn’t be further from the truth. On that note, the Enyaq is the first outing of VW’s MEB platform which will be used in the upcoming ID.4. You can expect all the quality you would find in a VW with some classic Skoda styling thrown into the mix. Technology features heavily in the Enyaq with the dash dominated by a large touchscreen, supplemented by a heads-up display and ‘virtual cockpit’ behind the steering wheel. Given a price point in the region of £35,000 this will be a very popular model with those SUV fans looking to go fully electric!

OUR PICK

EV’S OF 2021

HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 Launched in Feb it’s likely that we won’t see any examples on UK roads until the latter half of the year. Europe get first dibs on this crossover with an impressive 310 miles of range and some very bold styling cues. The interior can only be described as spacious and ‘comfy’ with some very nice recliner seats. The official promo teases power outlets for powering devices outdoors and draws parallels between many of the car’s design features and modernist living conveniences including, rather confusingly, a toaster. No doubt all will be revealed in time.

TESLA MODEL Y We’re taking a bit of a risk putting the Tesla Model Y in here because most sources estimate it won’t be available in the UK until early 2022. With it already on the streets of the US, this SUV Tesla will certainly be available to order this year in the UK and we expect some demo models to be on the streets before December. With styling similar to a Model 3 at both the front and rear but with 10% more space and a commanding road presence, the Y is pitched at families who like the safe feel of an off roader. Whether those families will be testing the capabilities of this all-wheel drive is another question. Either way, expect to see a few Model Ys at the school gates soon!

MASERATI ALFIERI With any kind of list like this you have to indulge us the pick of a car like the Alfieri. It’s the kind of car you’d find plastered over the walls of a hormonal teenager’s bedroom. More of a supercar than your practical runaround, it combines sleek Italian styling (with nods to the Ferrari California and 812) with the kind of power you’d expect from the same. Introduced originally as a concept car at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show to celebrate the 100year anniversary of the manufacturer, it’ll be available in both Hybrid and full BEV variants. Details are scarce currently but like that teenager, we can still dream!

SUSTAINABILITY GURU

john curtis

sustainability storyteller. John has been called a ‘sustainability guru’ and has spent the past 10 years of his career in the sustainability sector. We were lucky enough to chat with him about his work and passion!

SUSTAINABILITY GURU John, thanks so much for talking to us at Hubsta Magazine. We’ve been looking forward to it! First off, we’d just like to say a HUGE congratulations on making it to #100 on the GREENFLEET Most Influential People of 2020! There are some amazing people on the list, that must feel pretty great to be recognised? It’s the first time I have ever been on the Greenfleet Top 100 and I have to say I was amazed; to be on a list with Elon Musk, and many true pioneers of the industry is genuinely humbling. You were recently described as a ‘Sustainability Guru’ by Private Hire News Magazine, how did you come to be so passionate about sustainable mobility? I have to say that I am no guru. I am passionate about making not very much go a long way as can be seen in my career. My strength is a little knowledge, an enquiring mind and my passion for people and solutions. I am much more comfortable covering what others achieve than what I do. So, you’re a self-proclaimed “sustainability storyteller” - your writing is really enjoyable, straight to the point with a lot of quirk! Where did you pick up your style of writing? I know you will find this hard to believe but I used to be painfully shy and not great at English. I learned by reading a lot, copying the style of people I admire and mirroring how I speak in my writing.

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My strength is a little knowledge, an enquiring mind and my passion for people and solutions.

the massively talented Jonny Berry, Paul Kirkby, Sara Sloman and Sam Clarke. Of course, we have to ask, what kind of EV do you drive and why I drive a Nissan LEAF 24kWh, 1st Generation, it was the very first EV I drove, and I lost my heart. I now hanker after a Morris JE pickup but at £60k that may have to wait a while. Finally, we all know that electrified mobility is the direction that we’re heading in, but sustainability for the planet isn’t just about driving electric cars – what other changes do you hope to see across industry as a whole? Fundamentally, we need to harness renewable energy and also focus on taking less of the planet’s finite resources. I have a thing about wood. We need to repurpose wood, upcycle furniture and stop cutting down trees, the lungs of our planet. My sustainability has led to me hugging trees; I cannot lie.

“

You’ve been freelancing for a good few years now, is that right? Can you tell us a little more about the freelance work you do? I have spent ten years working in the sustainability world, mostly in transport. I am a qualified marketeer, journalist and lawyer and coupled with my love of storytelling and sustainability presents many opportunities to work for companies seeking the quirky, and need things delivered to time and quality. We’re huge fans of The EV Café here! How did you come to be involved with the project and what role do you play at the cafe? I LOVE the EV Café. It was started by Jonny Berry from Renault as we went into Lockdown 1.0 in March 2020. I was invited to join for one episode to talk about my work with EVs and they haven’t been able to evict me since. I operate the mailroom, on our monthly webinars, asking audience questions and interviewing the guests. I have the best role of all, I think, close to the visitors and guests yet still part of the five panellists, with

You can catch John Curtis talking on the EV Café @ www.evcafe.org.

REAL REVIEWS

Review

tesla model 3 Head of Marketing at Elmtronics, David Cook, offers up his views on what the Tesla Model 3 is really like to drive. 22

REAL REVIEWS

o where do I start…ah that’s right…the future. That’s where I find myself when sitting in the latest 2021 update of Tesla’s Model 3 SR+ (standard range plus). We’ve had one in the business now for two months. In that time, it’s done 1000+ miles (not bad, considering Covid); had 8 different drivers wanting to take it for a spin; and has gone viral on Elon Musk’s twitter account – yes, the actual car. Why the future you might ask? Well, the easy answer is that Tesla’s secret recipe is ‘simple technology that makes the user’s life easier.’ Just by embracing this concept, they’re about 5 years ahead of any other car company and many journalists agree (see Forbes and WSJ to start). This philosophy seems to permeate through every aspect of this car – let’s take a look at a few features and examples: » App control – this isn’t necessarily novel in the EV world but the ease with which you can lock, unlock and even allow remote access for someone else is easy and intuitive. The best use I’ve found (and the video that went viral) is the ability to remotely control the climate, defrosting and warming up the cabin interior from the comfort of your breakfast table, giving the owner a glorious extra 5 minutes in their bed. » Games & Entertainment – the obvious drawback of EVs is the longer time taken to charge. With the Tesla this is mitigated in part by their excellent network of Superchargers and the much higher allowable charging speed (up to 160kW). Even with those features, we still have to wait around 20-25min for a good charge.

» ‘Over the air’ software updates – since getting the car there’s been a new update every 2-3 weeks often offering new functionality or extending range. It’s a crazy concept when compared to the previous model of vehicle ownership. Back then, the car you bought was exactly same as the one you bought. This Tesla may actually have a longer range when it’s sold than when it was bought, even accounting for battery degradation. Not only that, but it will likely also have full self-driving functionality. Now I know what you’re thinking, it sounds like I’m on the Tesla Christmas card (and kick-back) list. It can’t all be that good, can it? Well yes and no. Although I haven’t seen it personally there are well documented examples of less-than-perfect workmanship, evidenced by panel gaps and flimsy materials. Many of these issues have been resolved by the 2021 model update. If you’re not expecting them, some of the driver assistance features can be a little bit jarring, such as an automatic intervention if you’re a little too close to an oncoming vehicle, especially on a corner. The car will steer to avoid a ‘potential’ collision which can be unnerving if you’re not expecting it. For me it’s a very rare occurrence but others have documented this in some detail. Overall thoughts, the Tesla Model 3 is one of the best-selling EVs for a reason. The 2021 update has addressed many previous criticisms of build quality and some design oversights. Their charging network (private to Tesla drivers) is one of the best around and the software updates are a real benefit.

David gives the Tesla Model 3, 5 bars out of 5. 23

CASE STUDY

case study Pentagon motor group Pentagon Motor Group is one of the largest motor groups within the UK. They have sites across the UK and are the 15 top dealer group, employing over 3,000 employees. The Brief With the rise of electric vehicles, Pentagon Motor Group wanted to ensure they are ready for the motoring switchover and have charge points available at each of their dealerships across the UK. The Solution To ensure their requirements were met, our Sales Director Simon Tate worked with their team to create a bespoke charging infrastructure. “We are delighted to work with Pentagon Motor Group, providing them with the right education and support to overcome the manufacturers requirements and challenges they were faced with regarding the planning and working within a tight deadline to ensure their electric vehicle charging infrastructure was in place”. – Simon Tate, Sales Director at Elmtronics

“

We chose to work with Elmtronics as from the initial discussions it was clear they understood the direction of our business...

“

Each of their 117 dealerships will be fitted with a combination of our smart Alfen 7kW fast dual chargers and ABB 25kW rapid chargers. The chargers will all be connected to the Hubsta network, which connects a huge 55,000 charge points worldwide! “We chose to work with Elmtronics as from the initial discussions it was clear they understood the direction of our business and were able to offer a reliable solution that suited our EV strategy now and for the future”. – Jonathan Lingham, Head of Marketing for Pentagon Motor Group

Unsure where to start with EV charging? We’re here to help! Get in touch to organise your free site survey or email sales@elmtronics.co.uk to discuss your requirements. 24

MARKET & CHARGER GUIDE

Electric insights Breaking down the latest market statistics, bringing our readers the essential figures from the world of EVs and EV charging.

March 2021

Jan 2021

38,535

450,000

UK Charge Points

Plug-in Cars

CHARGING POINTS With the new internal combustion engine (ICE) ban only a matter of years away, the demand to increase the UK’s charging infrastructure has increased dramatically. In the past 30 days (until March 1 2021), 736 charging devices have been added to the ZapMap database.

ELECTRIC CAR MARKET 2021 The popularity of EVs doesn’t seem to be slowing down, The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reports YoY new car registrations show that in January alone, BEV registrations increased by 54.4% and PHEV registrations increased by 28.0%.

» As of 1 March 2021, there were 22242 public electric charging devices available in the UK. 8359 of these were rapid (25-99kW) and 1373 were ultra-rapid (100kW+). » From 2016 to 2020 there has been a monumental increase of public chargers (220%).

These figures will increase dramatically over the next few years with six major car manufacturers having pledged to become all-electric by 2030. These announcements are combined with major developments in EV battery manufacturing, with BritishVolt confirming the UK’s first Gigafactory to be built in Northumberland.

Due to the increase in BEVs and PHEVs on UK roads over the past 30 days, there have been 136 public rapid charge points (incl ultra-rapid) installed. This figure equates to 294 new rapid connectors on the UK roads. Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers have the ability to charge an EV to 80% in as little as 20 mins.

FAST CHARGING (AC)

In the 2021 budget, Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax will remain fairly unchanged until at least 2025. From April 2021, rates will increase to 1% and then maintained at 2% from 2022 till 2025 at a minimum.

RAPID CHARGING (DC)

Type 1

Type 2

CCS

5-pin plug - uncommon, but can still be found on some EVs. Most manufacturers are shifting to Type 2.

7-pin plug - most common. It’s believed this will be the standard plug for EVs.

Combined Charging System. Less common than Type 2 but not rare.

CHA-de-MO

This is the most common rapid charging plug (in the UK).

CHARGING GUIDE

ev charging times A useful glossary of electric vehicles and their estimated charging times.

Make & Model

Max. Charge Limit (kW)

Battery Size (kWh)

2.3

175

350

Fiat 500e

7:18

2:24

1:31

0:42

0:20

Nissan e-NV200

11:33

3:48

2:25

1:06

0:34

VW ID.3 (Pure)

13:41

4:30

2:51

1:18

0:37

Tesla Model 3 SR+

160

15:31

5:00

3:10

1:27

0:42

0:28

0:13

Porsche Taycan

262

25:33

8:24

5:20

2:27

1:10

0:47

0:20

0:13

Mercedes EQV 300

110

27:23

9:00

5:43

2:37

1:15

0:50

0:34

Time taken to charge 10-80% (kW)

CHARGING POWER TERMINOLOGY AC

7kW

SLOW

25kW

FAST

100kW

RAPID

Need support? Here are some useful numbers for your EV needs! Hubsta 24/7 Support 0800 954 0091 Elmtronics Head Office 0191 406 6375 Installations 0191 417 3719

350+kW

ULTRA RAPID

download the hubsta app

N A E M O C E B T R E P

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View or download technical documents and register for webinars

ASK OUR EXPERTS Use our online form to ask any questions about buying or installing EV products

OZEV & REGS

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cef.co.uk/plugintoev

TRAINING

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IN-STORE | CEF.CO.UK | TRADE CATALOGUE | APP

Elmtronics, the UK’s award-winning supplier and installer of smart electric vehicle charging equipment. Specialising in home, workplace, fleet and destination charging.

info@elmtronics.co.uk