The Rocky Road to EV Adoption
The planet needs us to change our ways, and a key element is the switch from Internal Combustion Engines (“ICE”s) to Electric Vehicles (“EV”s).
With recent legislation and product launches, we can be in no doubt that governments and the automotive industry are planning for the mass adoption of EVs. The road to transition is, however strewn with a few large boulders; additional complexities that create anxiety and confusion for potential EV owners.
It’s true that the EV industry is in its early decades, and whilst I hesitate to use the loaded term “the Wild West”, it’s certainly in flux, with the future shape still to emerge from the fog and every point on the value chain proliferating at dizzying speeds.
For instance; the number of charge-point operators keeps growing, with over 50 companies in the UK alone (according to ZapMap). Business models and pricing differ widely, from memberships with monthly fees to exclusive roaming partnerships. Payment systems range from charge-cards and RFID tags to open access and contactless. Industry standards, even for critical items like wattage’s, charging cables and plugs show only the early signs of settling down.
The wide disparity between the familiar simplicity of ownership and operation of a conventional vehicle versus an EV, is a significant barrier to mass adoption that must be overcome. This I believe, is a place where the IoT communications industry can play a key part in eliminating complexity by addressing the root cause of much of the uncertainty – by providing ‘real time’ information.