Good availability of charge points – domestic and public – will be crucial to EV success, and Rexel is helping with its new Energeasy Drive platform. The picture shows a Rolec domestic EV charger, as sold by Rexel Energy Solutions. (Rexel)
Major electrical distributer Rexel has announced a brand new online platform that is aimed at helping installers to get started in the electric vehicle (EV) market, which will provide more and growing business opportunities. By James Hunt:
Called Energeasy Drive, Rexel’s new web service ‘empowers’, the company says, ‘installers with the knowledge, training and marketing support they need to enter and succeed in UK’s growing EV sector’.
This is not Rexel’s first foray into the EV world, as it already sells Rolec’s EV charging points.
Why has Rexel taken this step, particularly in view of the fact that there are many who still cast doubt on the ability of EVs to challenge conventionally fueled road vehicles? In reality, there is little doubt that longer term they will become almost ubiquitous. Even in the short term, there is real potential, as last year alone saw the UK demand for alternatively fueled vehicles, including EVs, double.
Indeed, it’s not widely known that the UK is the fourth largest EV market in the world and in 2015, this market grew by 94% (albeit from an admittedly small base), especially across the commercial sector, which includes hotels, offices, local authority premises and company fleets. The numbers of charging points are now far greater than they were until quite recently, with over 1,400 in London alone. This figure is set to rise to 6,000 by 2018.
One crucial reason why the sale of EVs will swell and prosper is that the car makers cannot meet their forthcoming emissions targets with conventionally fuelled vehicles on their own, so have to sell large numbers of EVs to be able to do so. This fact is amplified and put into perspective by the ongoing VW diesel car emissions cheating scandal. It is noteworthy too, that VW itself has announced plans to greatly expand its EV development and production, and is also creating a new division dedicated to it.
Of course, the EV sector cannot grow without a parallel growth in infrastructures, including the all-important charging and metering systems. Rexel’s new platform is part of this.
Learn all about it
Using Energeasy Drive, installers will find regularly updated information and news on EV developments, as well as charging technology innovations. Furthermore, for those installers wanting to find out how others have flourished in the market, successful case studies are provided. These feature installers who have grown their business through sales of EV charge points (EVCPs).
The website can also, says Rexel, be used as a powerful education and sales tool when on-site with customers, allowing installers to answer any common queries, as well as correcting any misconceptions about EV charging and the vehicles themselves, face to face. Typically, the first two questions asked – and rightly so – are how long it takes to charge an EV, and also its range. The answers to both questions depend, but will very likely surprise most people, as the technologies are being improved very fast.
Arm yourselves with the right tool
Commented head of Rexel Energy Solutions UK, Steve Everard: “We wanted to create a resource for installers that can be easily accessed on the move, enabling them to learn about the technology and most importantly, how they can incorporate it into their service offering.
“Energeasy Drive has been designed to do just that”, he said, continuing: “giving installers direct access to Rexel’s expert knowledge, training programmes, a product selector tool, and commercial finance options for customers.
“They’ll also be able to quickly edit and complete Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) Homecharge grant funding applications online and use their own EVCP customer database.”
He added: “By arming themselves with the right tools and product knowledge, installers will be better placed to win new business for the supply and installation of EV charging points, along with benefiting from added support in specifying the right solution for their customers.
“As more and more businesses and vehicle owners become aware of the benefits that EVs can offer them and the environment, we expect this to continue to grow. Thus, bringing the technology further into the mainstream – particularly in the domestic sector.”
Steve Everard concluded: “Coupled with the Government five-year £600million investment to support plug-in vehicles and charging infrastructure, it is the perfect time for installers to get on board with EV technology and register with Energeasy Drive.”
Installers can register here to become a member. For more information on Energeasy Drive for businesses and homeowners, go to: www.energeasy-drive.com
Voltimum UK has a technical area devoted to EV charging infrastructures. Please use the link below.
