Category Archives: Charging

EVIOS acquires Andersen EV to bolster chargepoint business

November 8, 2022Andersen, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, UncategorizedRepost

EV chargepoint manufacturer EVIOS has confirmed the acquisition of Andersen EV, a home charging company.

Under the agreement, the two brands will co-exist, serving different parts of the EV market and benefit from shared investment in technology, installation personnel and customer support.

EVIOS was founded by former founder and CEO of Chargemaster, David Martell. In April, Martell said EVIOS had designed its charger to meet six key criteria; to be hassle free, suitable for shared parking, to automatically link to off-peak electricity tariffs, integrate with solar installations, present information in understandable terms and to be affordable.

Securing Andersen will see production of the company’s A2 product recommence immediately with all associated customer support services to be merged with the existing operation at EVIOS’s Bedfordshire-based headquarters.

“Andersen’s design-led positioning complements our leadership in technology and functionality and running both brands in parallel will help us to serve an even broader range of customers,” said David Martell, chief executive of EVIOS.

Read more: Current+

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

Instavolt scoops award for third year in a row at EVIEs 2022

October 25, 2022Charging, Electric Cars, InstaVolt, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Instavolt made it a hattrick last night by winning the Private Sector Infrastructure Strategy of the Year award for the third year in a row, at the Electric Vehicle Innovation and Excellence Awards (EVIEs) 2022.

For the second year in a row, Tritium scooped the Chargepoint Manufacturer of the Year (C&I & Public) award.

While GRIDSERVE Electric Highway’s took home Charging Network of the Year, Agile Streets was selected as the Best Consumer Proposition, and Zap-Map COO and co-founder Melanie Shufflebotham was presented with the Special Recognition Award.

The EVIEs 2022 was the biggest yet, with 20 categories and well over 200 nominations, investigated by our esteemed judges.

A full list of winners and special commendations is included below.

Best Consumer Proposition (Utility/Energy) sponsored by GreenFlux

Agile Streets

Best New Product or Service (C&I & Public) sponsored by Fastned

3ti Papilio3

Best New Product or Service (Domestic)

Egg’s pay-monthly home EV charger

Special Commendation: Low Carbon Events – ev.energy

Read more: Current+

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

GRIDSERVE begins construction of Electric Forecourt at London Gatwick Airport

October 17, 2022Charging, Electric Cars, GRIDSERVE, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Electric vehicle (EV) charging company GRIDSERVE has started construction of a first-of-its-kind “Electric Forecourt” at London Gatwick Airport with plans to commence operation in 2023.

The site will feature 36 chargers on site at the Electric Forecourt, which includes high power chargers with up to 350kW of power, supplied by 100% renewable energy from the firm’s own hybrid solar farms.

GRDISERVE’s Forecourt will also have multiple connectors available to cater for all types of EVs whilst increasing accessibility via the use of contactless payments.

The site’s development follows the success of similar projects in Braintree and Norwich, all of which contributing to GRIDSERVE’s commitment to deliver over 100 Electric Forecourts.

Proposed Electric Forecourt (Image: GRIDSERVE)

The Norwich Forecourt offers visitors without EVs the opportunity to learn more and chat with EV gurus, while in the coming weeks visitors will be able to test drive electric cars from a variety of brands as part of GRIDSERVE Car Leasing.

This could potentially increase the adoption of EVs with the general public being informed on the positives of switching to EVs whilst also being able to trial one for themselves.

Read more: Current+

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

Green Updates: EV Demand Accelerates Ahead Of Charging Capacity

October 14, 2022Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

5 October: EV Drivers Say Infrastructure Not Fit For Purpose

Three quarters of EV drivers (57%) believe the UK’s current charging infrastructure is not fit for purpose, writes Bethany Garner.

The Novuna Vehicle Solutions research, which surveyed 2,000 UK motorists, also revealed that 31% of EV drivers frequently face queues for a charger, and four in five say the UK government should do more to improve charge point availability.

Although the government aims to install 300,000 new charge points by 2030, Novuna’s analysis suggests this goal may not be enough to serve the growing number of EVs on UK roads.

The majority of petrol and diesel car owners — 59% — plan to purchase an EV when it’s time to replace their vehicle. Among young drivers demand is even higher, with 79% of 18 to 34-year-olds planning to switch to an EV.

The government is planning to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2030.

John Berry, head of decarbonisation at Novuna said: “Demand for EVs has accelerated at a relentless pace, yet we’re rapidly facing the prospect of failing to realise the level of adequate public charging infrastructure to support mass adoption of EVs by the start of the next decade.”

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

UK drivers ditching petrol cars to save £3,000 more a year with an electric vehicle

October 13, 2022Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Electric car drivers can save £3,000 a year despite the price of energy rising, with some motorists able to benefit from free charging today.

The RAC recently updated its Charge Watch data which showed that the average price of using a public electric car rapid charge point had risen to 63p per kWh. This represents a 42 percent increase since May for public charging, causing alarm to many EV drivers who cannot charge at home.

However, Ed Carpenter, head of EV at Vanarama, highlighted how not all EV drivers would suffer from the expensive costs.

He pointed out that drivers could still save thousands of pounds a year in other ways.

He said: “It’s worth noting that many EV drivers predominantly charge from home so the above will impact some EV drivers, but not all.

“By comparison, those drivers who charge mostly from home will see a small rise in electricity costs from 28p to 34p per kWh as part of the Government’s October energy price cap.

“The price cap will remain in place until 2024 so it’s a good news story for those who are able to charge at home, especially as domestic electricity prices were set to rise to 52p per kWh from October 2022 with further price increases anticipated in 2023.”

Vanarama’s research found that EV drivers could save £175 a month through exemptions in Low Emission Zones, Clean Air Zones and the London ULEZ.

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

£1 million funding to support development of EV chargers across five Midlands areas

September 13, 2022Away From Home, Charging, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Five local authorities in the Midlands are set to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers in areas with limited off-street parking, courtesy of almost £1 million in government funding.

The bid, launched in June 2022, aims to deliver “hundreds” of new EV charging sites across the Midlands in order to support the integration of clean vehicles to the UK’s roads. This comes with the impending internal combustion engine ban coming into force from 2030.

Lincolnshire County Council, Herefordshire Council, Leicestershire County Council, Rutland County Council, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council – alongside Sub-National Transport Body Midlands Connect, submitted the bid resulting in a share of £935,355 set to be distributed between the five councils.

“I’m delighted that this successful bid means that we will be able to offer more electric charging facilities across the county which will support our residents and business to make the shift to ultra-low emission vehicles as part our strong commitment to addressing the climate and ecological emergency,” said Councillor John Harrington, cabinet member for infrastructure and transport.

Read more: Current+

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

Osprey to develop ultra-fast EV charging hubs for 12 British Garden Centres

September 12, 2022Away From Home, Charging, Charging, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Osprey Charging has partnered with British Garden Centres in order to add ultra-rapid charging hubs for electric vehicles (EVs) at 12 stores across the UK.

The ultra-rapid charging hubs are said to be capable of adding 100 miles of range in 20-30 minutes for EVs, with the first set to be established in a Carmarthen store in Wales. This will include eight ultra-rapid (159kW) chargers and is set to open later this year.

Further hubs will be developed across UK garden centres including Wimborne (Dorset), Carr Gate (Yorkshire), Braintree (Essex) and Harrow (London). A total of 12 sites have been confirmed with a mix of these larger hubs and some smaller installations depending on the size of the site and availability of power.

“The British Garden Centres name is synonymous with first-class customer experience, and we’re delighted to provide safe, reliable, and accessible charging at their UK stores,” said Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging.

“We look forward to a fruitful partnership as we work together to offer EV charging at more of its centres up and down the country.”

Read more: Current+

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

Electric car charging points: Why 1,000 new chargers probably still aren’t enough for all the EVs in the UK

September 6, 2022Away From Home, Charging, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Charge points will be built in nine local authorities across England but the rising use of EVs might outpace the installation of chargers

Drivers will have access to more than 1,000 new on-street charging points for their electric vehicles thanks to a £20m pilot scheme unveiled by the Government today.

BP Chargemaster Rapid Charger at Milton Keynes Charging Hub (Image: T. Larkum)

Charge points will be built in nine local authorities across England including Durham, Dorset, Kent, Lincolnshire, Barnet, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, and Warrington.

The pilot comes as the number of electric vehicles on the road keeps soaring, and amid warnings of major gaps across the country after figures showed local governments were failing to make use of government funds to boost residential charging infrastructure.

Ministers said the new scheme was aimed particularly at those without off-street parking who cannot charge their electric car at home, as well as at drivers needing a quick charge while travelling.

Trudy Harrison, transport minister, said: “We want to expand and grow our world-leading network of EV charge points, working closely with industry and local government, making it even easier for those without driveways to charge their electric vehicles and support the switch to cleaner travel.”

AA president, Edmund King, said it was “essential” that more on-street chargers were delivered, adding: “This is one further positive step on the road to electrification.”

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

£20 million pilot project set to develop 1,000 public chargepoints

September 5, 2022Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

A £20 million government-backed pilot scheme is aiming to support the growth of the electrical vehicle (EV) industry with the development of 1,000 new public chargepoints.

The pilot is part of the £450 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme, and will pool the collective knowledge of industry experts and local authorities to develop commercial EV charging infrastructure for residents across nine counties in the UK.

This includes Barnet, Dorset, Durham, Kent, Midlands Connect (with Lincolnshire as a lead authority), North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk and Warrington.

As such, the counties will gain commercial EV charging infrastructure including faster on-street chargepoints to larger petrol station-style charging hubs.

“We want to expand and grow our world-leading network of EV chargepoints, working closely with industry and local government, making it even easier for those without driveways to charge their electric vehicles and support the switch to cleaner travel,” said Trudy Harrison, decarbonisation minister.

“This scheme will help to level up electric vehicle infrastructure across the country, so that everyone can benefit from healthier neighbourhoods and cleaner air.”

The scheme will support members of the public without driveways by having better access to EV charging. The project will also develop the infrastructure required for the rapid rollout of EVs in the nation in light of the internal combustion engine (ICE) ban from 2030.

Read more: Current+

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:

Charge Of The “LEAF Brigade” Kept Small Towns In The Philippines Connected After Super Typhoon Rai

August 25, 2022Charging, Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, UncategorizedRepost

In December of 2021, super typhoon “Odette” (international codename Rai) battered many provinces in the Visayas, the second largest cluster of islands in the Philippines, as it made landfall on and first ravaged the tourist town of Siargao, known for its pristine beaches and surfing. Rai devastated many other provinces in the region including the province of Tacloban, Leyte, still recovering 7 years after the onslaught of Typhoon Haiyan (local codename “Yolanda”), and the chocolate capital of the Philippines, Bohol.

As Odette rumbled through the Visayas, it took particular interest in Bohol and Cebu. And as it intensified into the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, with sustained winds of some 100 miles per hour (160 km per hour) sweeping across an area some 600 miles on both sides. By the time it exited the Philippines a day later, it had destroyed over 80,000 homes and displaced some 481,000 people in Cebu alone. In total, some 992,000 homes were damaged and 368,000 completely destroyed in the whole region, according to the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

The most immediate requirement was shelter, power, and water. For power, the most immediate solution was solar power kits which could run one household each. Big business and several non-government organizations and church groups chipped in for most of the needs.

It’s Time to Go Green!

If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form: