British drivers in charge with Vattenfall EV market push
Swedish energy group makes first British move
Vattenfall, the Swedish energy group, is to make an ambitious first move into the British electric vehicle charging market next month with the launch of InCharge, its “any-driver-can-use” infrastructure concept.
Building on its electric vehicle (EV) lead in north western Europe, Vattenfall hopes to have its first, or partners’ first charging poles installed during the second half of 2018. Vattenfall is also targeting the domestic market allowing drivers to charge easily at home, at work and in public.
Vattenfall will allow any EV to charge at any Vattenfall InCharge charging point on a pay-as-you-go basis. Vattenfall will also promote roaming agreements with other charge point operators or driver service providers, unusual in Great Britain but increasingly common in northern Europe.
The head of Vattenfall e-mobility Tomas Björnsson said today that the combination of Vattenfall’s investment plans and smart solutions for home, office and destination charging will boost confidence in the young British EV market, increase competition, help tackle drivers’ range anxiety, support clean air zones in Britain’s cities and ultimately bring down cost to British drivers. He goes on to say that a more open network is a ‘must’ if GB’s EV potential is to be realised.
Vattenfall added that initially it will do this by partnering with commercial developers, real-estate companies, industries, fleet owners and public bodies, such as local authorities to install charging poles around Great Britain.
Magnus Hall, Vattenfall’s President and CEO, said: “Vattenfall strongly believes that the best way to make transport fossil free in a generation is to go electric. That’s why we are rolling out the open and driver friendly InCharge across north western Europe. We are in Britain to grow, and GB’s electric vehicle ambitions are a perfect fit with our smart, digitalised and low carbon electric vehicle strategy.”
Tomas Björnsson, Vattenfall’s Head of E-mobility, said: “We have big ambitions for rolling out InCharge in GB. Its early days for our market entry but we know from our success in growing the EV market in Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden – and recent rapid growth in low carbon transport in GB – that we have a strong offer to make to the British driver.
“Many charging poles in Britain are closed to a select number of users. We don’t think that will help grow the British electric vehicle market as fast as is needed. That’s why we believe it is beneficial if both public and business-owned semi-public charging infrastructure can be made available for all drivers. It makes EV charging hassle free for the driver, and maximises utilisation of infrastructure for the real estate owners that invest in charging.”
“We want to work in partnership with commercial property owners and developers, fleet owners and public bodies to make this happen. We have worked closely with many partners in other countries and we know we can make this a success in Great Britain.”
Vattenfall will launch its GB InCharge product in June 2018. It is currently building an e-mobility team in GB and a country director will join later next month.
The InCharge charging network was launched in Sweden in November 2016. It is developed together with cities, businesses, municipalities and local power companies.