UK EV Charging Network

1/8/2023

After celebrating our one-year anniversary at the end of summer 2023, all of us here at EVbee are looking to see what we can achieve next year. Over our first year, we have established a firm base in Europe. Notable bases we have built this year include our HQ in the Netherlands, the home of our operations and logistics hub, and where our HR team is based.

In addition to this, we have also created a core R&D and product team based in Norway, a country that is the center of the most advanced technological advancements in this sector of the EV industry. Alongside these teams that we have grown over the year, we have also expanded with other team members based across Europe, including Germany and Spain. As EVbee grows its reach across Europe over the next few months, we hope to kickstart our advancement into the UK charging networks. The UK market will be a core element of our development plan shortly, and towards the end of 2023, we will make some exciting announcements to push this next step further.

Current UK EV Charging Networks

Before continuing, it is worthwhile to introduce the current situation regarding UK EV charging networks and demonstrate why and how we see the United Kingdom as part of our development strategy. At the end of September 2023, it was estimated that there were nearly 50,000 EV charging points across the UK. This is an important figure as it demonstrates that there has been a notable surge in the total number of chargers over the year, with a 43% increase from September 2022. The growth of this industry in the UK is steadily increasing to match the demand that the rise in EV sales requires. Therefore, the next few years are crucial for developing an infrastructure network that can promptly answer this overall growth to ensure the system runs smoothly without any hitches.

EV chargers can be categorized into different power output levels, with Level 1 being the lowest output (which means slower charging time) and then moving to progressively higher outputs from Levels 2, 3, and 4 (equating to a much faster charging time). Each level has its own unique benefits and drawbacks. Currently, in the UK public charging networks, all charge types are present, with the majority being Level 2 chargers. This is a great base for the network to expand.

One of the unique characteristics of the UK EV charging scene is that it is relatively standardized. Regarding nationwide public charging infrastructure, this can be incredibly useful. Most public chargers in the UK support contactless payment systems, making the charging experience simple and similar to traditional refueling stations. At EVbee, we believe this is a really important factor, and all of our charging solutions can be synced with our app for simple, carefree charging wherever you are.
With 1.1 million EVs now in use on UK roads, which is 1 in every 32 cars, the transition to e-mobility is making good progress in the country, and we are excited to introduce our innovative charging solutions there.

EVbee in the UK

Building our base in the UK over the next few months will be an important step for our company and involve substantial planning and preparation. To introduce our product portfolio to UK-based potential future clients, in the Autumn of 2023, we will invite a small group to our Netherlands HQ. During the event, we will showcase our full portfolio so that potential clients can see our products up close; this will include technical demonstrations to see how our products function in real life. The event will also be complemented by in-depth talks from key members of our products and operations teams that will explain more about the technical side of our products, operational details, and the future direction we see our business taking. This initial event will be an exciting step in our development plan, and we are looking forward to interacting with potential clients.

London EV Show

Regarding our UK ambitions, another important date in our diary this autumn is the London EV Show, held from the 28th to the 30th of November at ExCeL London. At the show, we will have our very own booth with our full product portfolio on display for visitors to come and see in person. We always enjoy our time at events such as these, as they are a great way to meet like-minded industry professionals, share our message with new people, and grow our network. The London EV Show is the UK's largest and most important EV exhibition and one of the most famous B2B EV exhibitions worldwide. There will be key professionals from all aspects of the EV industry at the show, including business experts, leading EV policymakers, investors, EV users, and media outlets. Therefore, this will be an incredibly important opportunity for our team and an excellent networking opportunity. With talks from industry leads, exhibitions from the biggest EV brands, and a comprehensive catalog of showcases from the whole EV industry, these few days will allow us to learn more about the latest technological advancements in this incredibly fast-paced and dynamic industry.