would have the added benefit of reducing the strain EVs place on the National Grid. “By tapping into the energy generated from solar panels, EV homeowners can provide their own electricity and reduce their dependence on the National Grid. Almost half a million UK households have solar panels installed at their home, and YouGov research shows that 13% of UK EV Drivers have solar panels installed at home, giving them the ability to harness the energy generated from the sun to charge their EVs.” Monta itself can play a part in alleviating concerns through its EV driver app and charge point management platform. These allow any organisation with available sites and space to set up charge points for employees, guests and public EV drivers, managing users, power usage, pricing, access and transactions through the Monta app. They also allow private charge point owners to generate additional income by sharing their EV chargers with a community of EV drivers with the ability to manage access to the charge point and set their own pricing and usage parameters. https://monta.com low and the engine is relatively efficient, then it’s probably more sustainable to hang on to that car for a bit longer. “As an EV charge point platform provider, the false assumption would be that we’re pro-EV no matter what. The truth is that we’re pro-sustainability.” Addressing concerns Dubey adds that other concerns highlighted by the research, such as the extent of the charge point infrastructure, range anxiety and the cost of EVs, are being addressed by the car industry and by Government measures such as the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate. This stipulates that from 2024, each major car manufacturer must have a 22% share of EVs. The current average EV mix is 19.1%, with a target of 80% by 2030. For new vans, the government wants to see a 10% EV mix among manufacturers in 2024, rising to 70% by 2030. Dubey suggests that there are also ways to incentivise motorists and to make the cost of owning an EV easier to bear, such as equalising the VAT rates for charging EVs and encouraging motorists to source greener ways to charge their EVs at home, which October 2023 saw the 42nd consecutive monthly rise in registrations of Battery Electric Vehicles, with 23,943 drivers making the switch to an EV, 20% more than in October 2022. Despite rising EV sales, many motorists still find it hard to ditch their carbon-emitting vehicles and go electric. To understand why, EV charging platform Monta commissioned YouGov to find out what was stopping drivers from embracing electric vehicles. Its research shows that the top five reasons for NOT owning an EV are: q My current car is still ok (63%) w Too expensive (purchase and/or usage) (60%) e Lack of charge points/ infrastructure (45%) r I worry that the range is not enough for my needs (28%) t Uncertain of future cost due to the energy crisis (23%) Alok Dubey, Regional Director for Western Europe at Monta, says these findings reflect the fact that people’s choices will be influenced by their unique circumstances. “If your current car is OK, then why would you switch to an EV? The embedded carbon in petrol/ diesel cars owned has to be balanced with how many miles a driver covers. If the mileage is Who needs an EV anyway? Monta reveals the top five reasons for not owning an electric vehicle 17 www.managedITmag.co.uk EV CHARGING Alok Dubey V-Go – a new name in EV charging V-Go Energy (V-Go), a new EV charging provider, has joined Monta’s ‘Powered by’ programme to help deliver a seamless charging experience to EV owners in the UK. To be launched in February 2024, V-Go’s new home, workplace and commercial charging range will be fully integrated with Monta’s software, allowing V-Go customers to access Monta’s newest features, including over 500,000 roaming charge points, charge point sharing and smart charging. Chris Edwards, Chief Commercial Officer at V-Go, said: “Partnering with Monta means that we can focus on creating best-in-class charging hardware that puts the user and installer first, by making the installation and customer journey simple and intuitive. With just a scan of a QR code, the end user can activate their charge point and link it to their account immediately, giving them access to Monta’s great range of features including their first-class support system, extensive smart charging modes of operation and straightforward payment solution.” https://vgoenergy.com
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