Survey of EV charge point asset managers identifies key challenges of network growth
Sat 26 February 2022
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The results of an independent study commissioned to better understand the UK's EV ‘landscape’ have been published today. The research explores how EV charge point networks are managed and maintained to deliver optimum reliability.
The study, by leading global connected asset management and services provider Yotta, polled the opinions of UK professionals involved with the management and maintenance, installation and supply of EV charge points.
Unsurprisingly, respondents anticipate rapid growth in the number of EV charge points that will be introduced in the UK over the next decade. Nearly 70% expect EV charge point networks to be at least 40% larger in ten years time.
Of course, as networks grow, the challenge of maintaining the infrastructure increases. The top challenges cited by EV infrastructure asset managers questioned in the survey included: ‘maintenance and repair costs’(31%); data management of large network size (28%); and ‘engineering staff numbers’ (25%). Among the biggest impacts organisations see from ‘failing to maintain’ their EV charge points are ‘hinder growth of business’ (42%) and a loss of revenue (35%).
The study identified that there is still significant opportunity for improvement and the use of technology to ease the maintenance overhead. For example, under half of respondents (47%) say they currently identify faults or issues with devices/charge points automatically by remote device management software. This is a vital factor in avoiding downtime; a costly overhead given that 25% of the survey sample say EV charge point downtime is costing their business over £90,000 a year.
With the UK government set to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 as part of its drive to cut emissions to net zero by 2050, there’s no doubt that there will need to be a massive expansion of networks of electric vehicle (EV) charge points. Managing and maintaining them will be key.
To find out more about the results of the study, including the challenges companies have in maintaining EV charge point networks and details of how they are building a network fit for the future with the help of efficient asset management, download a free copy the report here.
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