Drax drives into electric vehicle market with business advice service
UK energy firm to offer bespoke EV energy services to companies looking to switch to battery-powered fleets
Drax Group is making its first foray into the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) market with the launch today of a new service to help businesses looking to make the switch to battery-powered fleets.
The UK energy supplier said the EV service would include expert advice to assess the type of electric mobility most suited to a business, analysis of different charging methods to minimise fleet downtime, and data analysis to help companies use their EV fleet as efficiently as possible.
The launch is a sign Drax has spotted the growing corporate interest in electric fleets and the emerging role for energy companies to offer ‘energy as a service’ products to corporate customers.
Drax subsidiary Haven Power will run the new EV service, and has signed up SES Water as its first customer.
SES Water has invested in 16 new EV charging points and is initially replacing 10 of its 120-strong fleet of diesel vans with electric models – a move Haven Power said would help save 43 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Haven Power said its services for SES Water would include installing EV charging infrastructure and operating software, leasing of EVs, support for devices such as vehicle telematics, and the provision of renewable electricity to power the vehicles.
It also plans to help SES Water monitor usage data from the telematics systems in order to potentially pave the way for a broader rollout of EVs in its fleet, as well as enable vehicle-to-grid trials.
Only 14 per cent of businesses have switched at least one of their vehicles to electric, but EVs’ share of corporate fleets is set to increase with 42 per cent of firms expected to deploy electric models within just three years, according to research firm Arval.
Jonathan Kini, Drax Retail CEO, insisted firms will need a bespoke solution to manage the shift. “We are working with customers like SES Water as an energy partner, to offer each of them a solution tailored to their specific needs,” he explained. “Giving them the optimal EV package will result in lower carbon emissions and costs, helping them to grow better businesses.”
Source: businessgreen
