It is difficult to explore any question about transportation without discussing both electric vehicles and the charging stations needed to keep them moving.
Electricians are doing their bit by enrolling on courses to learn how to safely install them, and many owners either already have or are looking into fitting a charging station, but as more and more people buy an electric car, they are also going to want to ensure they have plenty of places to charge it.
For the most part, an EV owner will do most of their charging either at home, in a shopping centre or supermarket car park whilst doing their shopping or at a public charging station, they will also want to ensure they can keep topped up at work as well.
Much like how retailers who operate near a charging station see increased spending, employees see it as a benefit, and it is something that can be used as a perk when recruiting, but are EV charging stations currently a universal need and will companies always benefit?
The answer, as one might expect, will vary depending on location, the nature of the business and the people working there.
Any business that already has a fleet of EVs will necessarily have charging stations, and many companies based in areas which already have a significant adoption of EVs will typically need at least some provision, however installing charging stations is a beneficial if not necessary future-proofing strategy.
At present, with EVs being a relative minority of vehicles compared to petrol and diesel cars amongst employees, it can appear to building managers and business leaders that charging stations are a “nice to have” but there is the potential for this to change and change quickly.
Some employees who own EVs do not necessarily see it as a perk but as a necessity to allow them to commute to a certain job. However, for others, it is ideal but not necessary, and it is worth surveying and otherwise talking to staff to see where they fit within each of the categories.
There is a chicken-and-egg problem to consider as well, as a lack of charging infrastructure discourages employees from choosing an EV as their next car, which in turn demonstrates a lack of demand for charging stations and the beat goes on.
The bigger issue for businesses is making sure that their charging stations are seen to be reliable. If installed and maintained by qualified electricians, EV charging stations are remarkably free of issues.
Employees need that certainty in order to avoid the range anxiety that has thus far been a barrier to the mass adoption of EVs. Because it takes longer to charge an EV than fill up a petrol tank (although by shrinking proportions), drivers are mindful of how far they can go before they need a sustained charge.
Being able to charge at work reduces a lot of the worries, as they know that as long as they can reach their place of work, they will have eight hours or more of uninterrupted charging, as long as the station is installed properly and is of high quality.