The creators of Charge2Go, who are also EV aficionados, grew weary of reading about how range anxiety plagues EV users owing to a shortage of charging stations. In any case, the demand for electric vehicles is great and there is a dearth of supply due to a lack of renewable energy sources, high gas prices, and government subsidies. Unfortunately, finding the ideal balance between chargers and users will always be difficult, much like with any developing chicken and egg sector.
New to the field of electric vehicles and charging services is Charge2Go. Peter Geers, the CEO and co-founder, and I, Hung Phan, the COO and CTO, have both worked in the energy sector for more than 20 years. In order to alleviate range anxiety, Charge2Go has developed the AirBnB of EV chargers, unlocking the value and enhancing accessibility of private chargers, incentivizing the addition of new chargers to the system. A well-used charger might pay for its cost and installation within 12 years, according to modeling.
The Charge2Go platform is a service that enables companies or individuals that own or have access to chargers to post those chargers on the site, specifying their availability and the fee they wish to be paid for the service. In order to build an ecosystem around the charging point that would entice people to utilize it, they can also use it to advertise their business, goods, or nearby services. An EV user can reserve a spot on a charger for the agreed-upon service cost by searching for a location or a certain type of charger. Through a transaction, Charge2Go connects the EV Host and EV User, and payment is made directly between the two parties.
Numerous industry issues, including as coverage (where chargers are placed), density (the number of chargers available), dependability (faulty chargers), compatibility (various plug types, charging rates, and vehicles), and fragmentation (where chargers are situated) are the root causes of range anxiety (many players with their own proprietary software and payment systems). As you might expect, today’s consumer experience is both complicated and overwhelming.
The burden on the EV charging infrastructure will increase as more consumers choose for electric vehicles. Federal and state governments have acknowledged this and have begun implementing grants and regulations to promote the creation of a top-notch charging network. The Charge2Go founders think this won’t be sufficient though.
As of the end of January 2021, there were 20.1 million registered combustion vehicles, according to ABS statistics. Australia will need to install 1.64 million EV chargers (8 percent of 20M vehicles) if we assume that the country successfully converts to 100 percent electric vehicles over the next 1020 years and utilize the ratio of 12.23 EVs per public EV charger (current ratio in California). To put things in perspective, there are now about 3,000 public charging stations in Australia (2,500 AC and 500 DC fast chargers). This seems both expensive and possibly unnecessary if we can improve how the charging network is used.
Imagine driving the family on an Easter road trip in your brand-new EV while the kids are hungry and exhausted. As you pull into a parking lot for on-the-go charging, you join a long line of other EV owners. After that, while trying to keep the family amused, you wait somewhere between 15 and an hour for the device to charge. What joy! At Charge2Go, we think the customer experience is most important. We are unable to alter the laws of physics that govern how quickly you can charge, but we can provide an alternative that includes a charger host that is away from major thoroughfares, as well as nearby cafes, parks, and other amenities that let you charge while you unwind and concentrate on other things. The focus shouldn’t be on charging!
Many consumers’ preferred option will be to purchase an EV as options and availability expand and prices decline. If we don’t promote electric vehicles and the accessibility of chargers more positively, we run the risk of decreasing the range of vehicles available to Australian consumers as more manufacturers stop producing combustion vehicles. More importantly, we don’t want to confuse consumers with convoluted charging procedures, exclusive technologies, or rules that would slow down the adoption of and shift to electric vehicles. Uncertainty in this area is not something that consumers or businesses need.
Charge2Go is dedicated to facilitating access to anywhere, anytime charging in order to hasten the uptake of electric car ownership. For the consumer, we strive to make things as simple as possible. According to our research, many consumers are still concerned about the driving range of EVs and how to find working chargers if they stray from major roads and highways.
The facilitation between Host and User is one of Charge2Go’s core platform services for creating an engaged community, but the company is also looking into joint ventures with automakers, retailers, and other companies that may utilize the platform to advertise their goods and services. A car manufacturer, for instance, may present the newest models in their EV lineup or even offer car evaluations.
Please visit charge2go.com.au to sign up for Australia’s first EV charger sharing network.
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