The government’s ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035 (1) means businesses are facing increasing pressures to transition to electric vehicles. However, many businesses are hesitant to do so, because they don’t know how or don’t understand the full journey. For businesses who are yet to begin the transition, or are unsure what their next move should be, it can be overwhelming. However, the transition to EV offers significant benefits when it comes to fleet decarbonisation and the provision of charging points for employees and visitors.
To support businesses in all sectors and industries maximise EV charging strategies and drive change towards a net zero future, Equans has released a ground breaking maturity model, the first of its kind for the EV sector. Drawing on over a decade of industry expertise, the model provides a clear structure with six achievable stages, accompanied with actionable strategies to advance from one to the next. It allows businesses to identify which stage they are currently at in their EV transition journey, evaluate what the next step could be and look to the future to see the benefits that could be delivered.
Here, Simon Kendrew, Marketing and Commercial Director at Equans EV Solutions, explores how to progress through a maturity model for electric vehicle charging network rollout and the opportunities and advantages that could be achieved for any organisation.
How to progress through an EV charging network maturity model
Before you can move forward, it’s crucial that you have a clear understanding of exactly where you are currently in your EV journey. The first stage of the maturity model is ‘Explore’. By taking this first step, you are laying the groundwork to allow yourself to effectively progress through the stages and will be in a much better position to address challenges that may lie ahead, ensuring a smooth journey through the maturity model. Once you know where you are, it’s time to begin.
Image: Equans
The next stage is the planning phase. Your EV transition plan should be critical, objective and realistic, considering number of vehicles, people, locations, your current operation, budgets and timeframes.
When your plan and approach is clearly defined, you can begin to put it into practice through an EV pilot project. For this phase, consider where the initial EV charge points will have the most impact, such as near customer, visitor or staff parking or within your depot. When your pilot is up and running, it will provide valuable data and insight that you can interpret to help refine your EV charging strategy. This stage is crucial, as it allows you to identify any operational challenges, evaluate objectives and consider any user experience improvement areas that need to be addressed before a wider rollout.
Next, it’s time to scale up and ‘connect’. The goal with this phase should be to replicate the success of your pilot across additional sites, ensuring that the insights and key learnings from the pilot are implemented.
Once you have successfully integrated your expanding network of charging stations – you have moved to the ‘mature’ stage. This is where your EV charging infrastructure becomes a consistent and reliable aspect of your operational infrastructure. Once you reach this stage, you should look to better your infrastructure operations by using data and smart management solutions. These analytical insights will help you make data-driven decisions that improve operational efficiency, productivity and manage energy consumption. Your strategy should also continually evolve to match the pace of adoption and technological advancements in the EV industry.
The final stage, ‘monetisation’, is where organisations are ready to start exploring further opportunities to suit their specific use cases, for example, generating revenue from their EV charging network. Innovative pricing strategies could be considered, such as setting different rates for visitors and employees, or making your chargers available for public use. To successfully monetise, be familiar with customer needs and regulation. If you open your charge points up to the public, the right EV partner can support you in driving utilisation of the charge points with joint marketing activities to increase revenue. Monetising can also help to subsidise other users, or generate revenue for re-investment. It’s not only about making a profit, but also enhancing user experience and promoting EV adoption as well.
The business benefit of progressing through an EV charging network maturity model
By using this maturity model as a guide for your EV transition, you can unlock the potential of your EV charging strategy and open your organisation to multiple competitive advantages and opportunities. It doesn’t matter what stage your business is at, whether you’re right at the start or have already begun your transition – understanding the entire EV charging journey that any organisation could embark on will help you gain clarity and confidence to progress.
Navigating through the stages of the EV charging maturity model requires perseverance, strategic planning, and an openness to adapt as your programme evolves, as well as finding the right partner to support you. As we move ever closer to a future dominated by electric mobility, the steps taken today will ensure your business is prepared. Your journey through the EV charging maturity model is not just about implementation – it’s about embedding sustainable practices into the core of your business.
From plan to pilot then profit: Equans maturity model for electric vehicle charging network rollout
Backed by more than 10 years of industry expertise, the Equans maturity model provides an actionable strategy for businesses to not only install charge points, but to turn them into essential parts of organisational strategy and CSR commitments – offering an integrated and profitable EV charging operation. The six stages include:
- Explore: identifying where you currently are and what might be next.
- Plan: considering realistic objectives and goals.
- Pilot: beginning to test and learn.
- Connect: starting to scale up.
- Mature: integrating with daily operations.
- Monetise: exploring your network as a revenue source.
With this strategic and actionable approach to EV charging solutions, Equans is solidifying the position of businesses that adopt EVs, as well as shaping the move towards sustainable transport solutions.
To unlock the potential of your EV charging strategy and discover the advantages for your organisation, download Equans’ new maturity model: https://www.equans.co.uk/ev-maturity-model-guide
