A group of organisations including Tesco, NatWest Group, LeasePlan UK, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and The Environment Agency, has launched the EVzero initiative to increase electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the UK and accelerate the deployment of electric fleets.
The aim of the EVzero initiative is to enable leaders to help each other take the next steps forward for their fleet transition, by tackling critical pinch points in delivering EV charging infrastructure. The participants will focus on working together to overcome costs and challenges, and develop innovative solutions based around collaborative demand in asset availability, utilisation, finance, and efficiency.
In working together, the organisations within the EVzero programme are aiming to develop a suitable charging infrastructure network that helps to turn EV strategy into actions. Part of this will involve sharing and gaining access to knowledge, technical support and data from peers and market experts to ensure success.
Although specific measures were lacking at this stage, Matt Pumfrey, CEO at EVzero by Innovation Gateway, said: “Innovation Gateway has a heritage in collaboration and innovation identification, and we are bringing our framework to support the deployment of tangible EV projects. By doing this together, we will reduce risks and costs and develop solutions based around the collective demand of the world’s most ambitious organisations.”
By pooling experience and resources, the group of leaders certainly hopes to shake up the EV market – and “crack the code towards a fully net zero future,” according to Innovation Gateway.
“Developing a suitable charging infrastructure is key to the successful transition to electric vehicles for many organisations’ commercial operations,” said Jacqueline Carrington-Fallow, Design Manager at NatWest Group.
“We are pleased to be working with like-minded organisations to address shared problems and come up with solutions that will help to accelerate the decarbonisation and electrification of our fleet vehicles.”
NatWest itself has plans to install 600 EV charging points – available for use by the bank’s employees and customers – across the UK, by 2023. The contract to supply the charging infrastructure was awarded to Engie brand EQUANS.
“Making the switch to EVs can feel like a daunting task for businesses and public sector bodies, but with the right support and preparation in place it can be a positive and straight-forward experience,” said Alfonzo Martinez, Managing Director, LeasePlan UK.
The EVzero initiative, which launched in January 2022, had its first group session scheduled to take place on 27th January.
