Centrica and NCP have reached a collaboration agreement that will see the two companies trial new approaches to electric vehicle charging for professional drivers.
The two companies will focus on the challenge of making charging more convenient, creating potential ways of charging commercial fleets and taxis in public spaces.
The first pilot ‘charge park’ is expected in the new year, with the two companies promising to examine how to combine leisure services and technology to make charging less onerous. NCP manages over 500 sites and has over 150,000 parking spaces.
Andreas Atkins, head of electric vehicle strategy for Centrica Innovations, said: “One of the big barriers we need to overcome in terms of adoption is how professional drivers can make time in their day to charge.
“While there has been a great deal of research in to how to make charging faster, little has been done to enhance convenience, so that charging can fit comfortably in to our busy lives.”
Jonathan Scott, CEO at NCP, said: “Mechanisms such as the congestion charge and ultra low emissions zones are drivers for the adoption of electric fleets. We are investing to grow the number of our sites offering EV charging, but we want to do so in a way that’s fit for purpose for all of our customers.”
Centrica is committed to helping drive EV enablement and has recently expanded its digital service, Local Heroes, to offer homeowners electric vehicle (EV) charging installations, while Centrica Business Solutions has launched a package of solutions for large businesses that includes new solar and battery storage facilities to help meet increased onsite power demand.
