All-inclusive package: EV, lease, electricity and charging network

Fleets should look forward to all-encompassing electrification solutions as OEMs, leasing companies, energy utilities and charge point operators join forces to offer a complete product and service package, according to a new report.

With the EV charging sector undergoing massive consolidation, all sectors of the industry will need to work together to provide an all-inclusive solution that wins long-term customer loyalty, argues the white paper European EV Charging Forecast 2021-24.

Graeme Cooper, Head of Future Markets, National Grid, said: “To attract and retain customers, the industry will need to find ways to partner across markets and bundle solutions for eDrivers. For example, utility companies working with automotive and leasing companies can partner to provide their customers with an EV, lease agreement, and pre-agreed charging time or kWh in one monthly payment similar to mobile phone contracts.”

Discover major fleet's electrification plans at the Global Fleet Conference on 2 December 2021

Soaring demand

The report forecasts that the number of charge points in Europe will rise to 5.2 million by 2024, up from 1.3 million in 2019, as charge point operators (CPO) and electric mobility service providers (EMSP) race to deliver a public charging infrastructure capable of serving 13 million zero-and low-emission vehicles by 2025.

Maximilian Huber, COO of has·to·be gmbh, which commissioned the white paper, said: “There is no doubt about it, the eMobility market has only begun its growth path in Europe and other markets. The European vehicle emissions standard EU7 will be the final emission standard for internal combustion engine driven passenger and light-duty vehicles and will set the emission bar so low that only cost-intensive technical solutions will allow vehicles to meet the homologation requirements. That will turn the tide in favor of fully electric cars as ICE vehicles become more expensive than their electric variants.”

Charging infrastructure

Building the charging infrastructure to support these cars are CPOs and EMSPs owned by utility companies, oil and gas companies like Shell and BP,  and vehicle manufacturers, which are eyeing up opportunities to play a deeper role in their customers’ lives as EVs start to act as mobile batteries, powering homes.

“Europe is entering the consolidation phase,” said the white paper. “We expect to see a small number of pan-European companies dominate the market, a trend that will become increasingly apparent by 2026. The last chance to enter the EV Charging market in Europe is in the next three years. By 2024–2026 the market will be dominated by a small number of exceptionally large players, making it hard to penetrate.”

has to be develops the be.ENERGISED software for operating EV charging infrastructure.

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