As EV enthusiasts, the founders of Charge2Go were tired of hearing stories from EV owners who suffered from range fears due to the lack of charging infrastructure. After all, electric vehicles are selling like hot cakes: driven by a lack of global supply and high consumer demand, and motivated by a future of renewable energy, high gasoline prices and government incentives. Unfortunately, as with any mature “chicken-and-egg” industry, it will always be a challenge to find the right balance between chargers and users.
Charge2Go is a newcomer to the world of electric vehicles and charging services. Co-founders Peter Geers, CEO, and Hung Phan (I), COO/CTO, have both been active in the energy sector for over 20 years. To combat the fear of range, Charge2Go has created the AirBnB of EV chargers, unlocking the value of private chargers and making them more accessible, encouraging more chargers for the system. Modeling has shown that a well-used charger can pay for its purchase and installation within 1-2 years.
The Charge2Go platform is a service that allows companies or individuals who own or have access to a charger to list their charger on the platform and indicate when it is available and how much they want to receive for the service. It also allows them to promote their location, products or other services nearby so that they can create an ecosystem around the charging location to attract people to use it. An EV user simply searches for a location or type of charger and can then book a lock on that charger at the agreed service costs. Charge2Go links the EV Host and EV User through a transaction, and payment is made directly between the Host and User.
The reasons for range anxiety stem from a number of industry challenges, including: coverage (where chargers are located), density (the number of chargers available), reliability (defective chargers), compatibility (many plug types, charging speeds, and vehicles), and fragmentation (many players with their own proprietary software and payment systems). As you can imagine, the customer experience right now is both complex and overwhelming.
As more consumers choose an EV, the pressure on the EV charging network will increase. Federal and state governments have recognized this and have begun rolling out subsidies and policies to encourage the development of a world-class charging network. However, the founders of Charge2Go think that this will not be enough.
According to ABS statistics, as of January 31, 2021, there were 20.1 million registered combustion engine vehicles. If we assume that Australia successfully transitions to 100% electric vehicles in the next 10-20 years and the ratio of 12.23 EVs per public EV charger (California power ratio), Australia must install 1.64 million EV chargers! (~8% of 20 million vehicles). To put things in perspective, Australia currently has about 3,000 public chargers (~2,500 AC and ~500 DC fast chargers). This seems both costly and potentially unnecessary if we can make better use of the charging network.
Imagine taking the family on an Easter road trip in your shiny new EV, the kids hungry and tired as you pull into a charging parking lot along the way, along with dozens of other EV owners waiting in line. You’ll then wait anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour to recharge while trying to entertain the family. O the joy! At Charge2Go, we believe that the experience matters most. We can’t change the physics of how fast you can charge, but we can provide the alternative of a charger that is located next to major highways, nearby cafes, parks and other amenities that allow you to recharge while relaxing and focusing on other things . stuff. Charging should not be the center of attention!
Owning an EV will become the default preference for many consumers as choice and availability increase and prices fall. With many manufacturers ceasing production of combustion engine vehicles, we risk reducing the number of vehicles available to Australian consumers if we don’t create a more positive story for electric vehicles and the availability of chargers. More importantly, we don’t want to confuse consumers with complex charging schemes, proprietary systems and regulations that will slow down the adoption and transition to electric vehicles. Consumers and businesses do not need uncertainty in this space.
Charge2Go aims to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicle ownership by providing access to charging anywhere, anytime. We want to make it as easy as possible for the consumer. Our research shows that many consumers are still concerned about the range of EVs, and if they venture off major highways and freeways, how do they find chargers that are in use and not yet in use?
Charge2Go sees Host-User facilitation as an important platform service to build an active community, but is also exploring partnerships with automakers, retailers, and businesses that can use the platform to showcase their products and services. For example, a car manufacturer could showcase its latest offering in its EV range or even provide vehicle reviews.
To join Australia’s first EV charger sharing network, visit: charge2go.com.au sign up.
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