UK: A new EV charging point operator, Zapgo, is aiming to fill the gap outside London, where hotel guests find it harder to charge their electric vehicles.
Research from the department for transport on July 1, 2024, shows an uneven geographical distribution of charging devices within the UK.
London has significantly more charging provision than other parts of the country with parts of Northern England having 50 per cent fewer charge points than the capital.
According to research from Drax EV, more than 90 per cent of city hotels outside London lack EV charging infrastructure. Analysing more than 15,000 hotels in 74 cities, the research found that only 6 per cent of city hotels provide access to EV chargers.
London and Scotland had the highest level of charging provision per 100,000 of population, with 234 and 103 devices per 100,000 respectively. In comparison, the average provision in the UK was 96 per 100,000.
The research also found that 45 per cent of EV drivers rely on destination charging.
CEO Steve Leighton, who spearheaded initiatives like Voneus, which brought internet connectivity to remote areas, has positioned Zapgo to offer hotel owners a way to make money at the same time as “supporting the environment”.
Leighton said: “At Zapgo we’re offering to partner with hotels bringing an innovative solution that not only supports the environment but also fosters a sustainable revenue for hotels and a better service to hotel customers.”
According to Leighton, Zapgo offers a revenue share for hotel owners “making it a lucrative opportunity for hotels to attract more customers and cater to EV drivers looking to charge while on longer journeys.”
In the next 10 years more than 1.45 million EVs are predicted to be on the road and from 2025 all non-residential buildings with 20+ car parking spaces will require at least one charging point. From 2030 there will be a ban on new petrol and diesel cars in the UK.
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