With the changes in building regulations and the rapidly growing popularity of electric vehicles, EV charging has never been a more important issue for developers to get right. EV charging solutions specialist, Connected Kerb, talks us through the steps housebuilders should take to ensure they find the best EV charging partner.
Whether you’re driving along the M1, or walking through your local high street, it’s hard not to notice the growing number of green license plates on the UK’s roads. That’s because the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is growing at pace. There are around one million electric cars on the UK’s roads, a figure that will continue to soar, particularly ahead of the phasing out of new petrol and diesel vehicles in 2035.
While charge points are being installed up and down UK streets and motorways, around 90% of all EV charging happens at home, putting residential developers in the driving seat for opening up access to charge points in areas where people will use them the most.
The importance of installing EV charge points in residential areas is recognised in the Part S building regulations, which requires all new builds with parking to have charge points as standard, meaning EV charging is no longer a ‘nice to have’ – it’s a necessity.
But we get it – installing EV charge points is just as important as fitting taps in bathrooms and kitchens, but with far more to consider. That’s why choosing the right EV charging partner can make all the difference.
Long-term contracts go a long way
As EV adoption soars, access to charge points is increasingly important for homebuyers, as is giving developers and residents confidence that the charge points going into the ground today will be reliable, affordable and convenient in the years to come.
Understandably, developers aren’t always EV experts and simply can’t dedicate their time to tackling the issue in-house, so by working with a trusted EV charging partner on a long-term basis, their time can be spent elsewhere. When finding an EV charging partner, it’s important to consider the length of contracts on offer – put simply, long-term contracts will go a long way.
From the maze of grants on offer to managing grid capacity and guiding multiple stakeholders through the ever-evolving regulatory and consumer landscape, EV charging brings a whole host of new challenges to navigate and consider. And that’s before we start thinking about the management and maintenance of the chargers installed.
The right partner will help developers navigate the ever-evolving EV landscape, from consumer behaviour and regulatory changes through to technology advancements – so, no matter what’s on the horizon, you’re already a step ahead.
Importantly, long-term contracts can hand the responsibility of maintenance and operation over to the EV charging partner. So in the (unlikely) event that a plug or cable gets damaged, developers don’t need to blink an eye.
Most chargers have a three-year warranty, so it’s vital that developers choose solutions and partnerships that last well beyond that. Connected Kerb always offers 15+ year contracts from the point of installation, which provides developers with certainty and confidence that the chargers they install today won’t become obsolete in the space of a few years and remain an asset for residents, not a burden.
Think infrastructure, not just product
With charging technology progressing fast and EV uptake growing at pace, it can be hard to know what technology to install that will meet the needs of residents today, but also for years to come.
The lifespan of charge points can be short – between 5-10 years on average – meaning that chargers have to be replaced, causing disruption and incurring a high cost. But this is entirely avoidable by ensuring what you’re installing today will go the distance.
That’s why focusing on infrastructure is so important. Realistically, sockets and cables will be the first to become faulty – but that shouldn’t mean that developers need to replace everything. The benefit of modular design means that chargers can be installed and lie dormant underground until they’re activated – within 45 minutes. Replacement of sockets and cables becomes a breeze because the major componentry is already installed in the ground. Deploying such infrastructure provides the flexibility to scale up charging to meet future demand without undue disruption.
Additionally, finding an EV charging partner with smart charging expertise and capabilities will become increasingly valuable to any developer. It plays a critical role in avoiding expensive grid upgrades, by enabling residents to benefit from charging outside of peak demand periods (such as overnight). Smart charging enables developers to lead the way in reducing the strain on the power grid by shifting demand to off-peak periods. It will also provide considerable cost benefits.
Traditionally, only those capable of home charging could benefit from the cheaper tariffs offered by smart charging, but Connected Kerb’s Agile Streets trial showed this doesn’t have to be the case. By deploying smart charging on their properties, developers can offer real social value by making EV charging appealing to all residents, whatever their income. They can also show a commitment to accessibility requirements with charge points that increasingly consider the needs of drivers with physical and visual impairments.
It’s also worth ensuring that the charging infrastructure you install today will be capable of catering to future technologies as they become ubiquitous – think Internet of Things, air quality sensors and 5G. Ultimately, as EV charging technology continues to rapidly evolve, residents don’t want to be left with outdated infrastructure in just a few years.
Flexible funding to reduce costs
From fully-funded to self-funded models, through to ongoing maintenance and operation, it’s important that your EV charging partner can cater to the unique needs of your development.
A long-term can lower the lifetime cost of infrastructure while delivering long-term value and reliability to your development. Your chosen EV charging partner can work with you to understand the contract length which will prove to be the best option for your site.
Having an experienced EV charging partner on-side can benefit developers in pinpointing the grants and subsidies on offer whilst helping to facilitate collaboration with the likes of local councils and stakeholders, which can be crucial to unlocking additional funding.
Successful track records
Reliability, affordability, convenience – this is what matters most to drivers when it comes to EV charging. So, it’s important to ensure your EV charging partner knows how to get it right.
Working with a charge point operator that drivers already recognise and trust is an easy win in providing developers and residents alike with confidence in the chargers deployed, not to mention the boost to a developer’s reputation in the eyes of potential buyers by partnering with a reputable supplier.
Connected Kerb is one of the UK’s leading electric vehicle charging companies, offering a unique modular infrastructure design and installing charge points below ground which can be activated as demand grows. Connected Kerb’s charge points also lay the groundwork for future technologies. The company prioritises long-term partnerships with developers, delivering long-term value and lowering the lifetime cost of infrastructure to offer partners a funding model that works for them.
