Green Success Stories sits down with EVBox, one of the leaders in vehicle charging solutions to learn about the biggest problem EV drivers face today. The biggest problem, according to EVBox research, is that as electric vehicles gain momentum in the U.S., nearly 4 in 5 EV drivers say there are not enough charging options at work. Businesses that step up to provide electric vehicle charging options and electric cars for employees will accelerate the nation’s shift to emission-free EVs and make themselves more attractive to potential hires.
Who is EVBox Group?
Founded in 2010, EVBox Group empowers forward-thinking businesses to build a sustainable future by providing flexible and scalable electric vehicle charging solutions. With its extensive portfolio of commercial and ultra-fast EVBox charging stations, as well as scalable charging management software engineered by Everon, EVBox Group ensures that electric mobility is accessible to everyone.
EVBox Group is a leader in R&D, with facilities across Europe and North America developing groundbreaking electric vehicle charging technology. With offices across the globe, including Amsterdam, Bordeaux, Munich, and Chicago, and strong foundations in dozens of markets, EVBox Group is working to shape a sustainable future of transportation.
Despite major government policy and auto industry developments aimed at helping more U.S. drivers switch to electric vehicles (EVs), most EV drivers (78%) say they don’t have enough options for charging their cars at work.
Electric Vehicle Charging Options
Only 22% of EV drivers say there are always enough charging stations where they work, and 43% say there are no chargers at all, according to a report from market research firm Ipsos.
Businesses that step up to support EV drivers — by adding EV chargers at their locations and offering all-electric company cars to employees — will be more attractive to potential hires. They will also have the opportunity to make a huge impact on their employees, society, and the planet, according to findings of the EVBox Mobility Monitor, which surveyed over 2,000 U.S. residents nationwide in February 2021.
Making an impact
When employers offer workplace charging, EV drivers are more eager to stick with EVs. Two-thirds (67%) of EV drivers say workplace charging would make them more likely to buy another EV as their next car.
Attracting talent
More than half of EV drivers (57%) say employers that offer EVs as company cars would be more attractive to work for. Mainstream automakers recently have begun making it cheaper for employers to do so by rolling out more affordable EV options.
Who are workplace EV drivers?
State of workplace charging
- Currently, 4 in 10 EV drivers say that their company has a sustainability vision in place and offers them the choice of an EV when selecting a company car.
- That said, EV drivers want more employer support for EVs: 45% would like to see more regular chargers (AC) at work and 33% want more fast charging (DC) stations.
- EV drivers not only want more workplace charging, but a majority (6 in 10) expect charging to be free for company cars as well as private vehicles.
Incentives help — but businesses and drivers need more
Businesses are critical to the development of a robust national EV charging network. Federal tax credits and other incentives help companies afford to install the EV infrastructure that drivers need and spur them to act quickly, before credits run out.
Some tax credits and rebates are already available to help businesses add EV chargers at workplaces and to help drivers reduce the cost of buying an EV. President Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan, which calls for 500,000 new public charging stations by 2030, would significantly expand and extend these incentives. If Biden’s plan becomes reality, it would help the U.S. leverage the full influence and power of the business community to accelerate widespread EV adoption and its benefits for people and the environment.
Kristof Vereenooghe (CEO of EVBox Group)
Findings from the EVBox Mobility Monitor confirm that U.S. drivers want employers to make it easier for them to switch to EVs. Companies can help by adding EVs to their business car options and installing sufficient EV charging infrastructure at workplaces throughout the country. The expanded incentives for businesses and EV drivers in President Biden’s plan would empower the U.S. to make tremendous progress toward a sustainable transportation future, but much more can be done.
EVBox Guest on The Green Podcast, hosted by Dylan Welch to address electric vehicle charging options
Hugo Periera, Chief Growth Officer, joins The Green Podcast. Tune in below to check out the episode and other episodes featuring leaders in cleantech, renewable energy, and sustainability.
