2 February, 2024

The Future of EV Charging Technology in Commercial Settings

Technology develops fast and EV charging technology is no different. With many EV charging stations already equipped with state-of-the-art features it’s hard to know what more we can expect in the coming year. That’s where we come in! We’ve done some research into the future of EV charging technology in commercial settings, giving you clear insight into some of the upcoming trends in EV charging we are likely to see come into the forefront.

The Current Commercial EV Charging Landscape 

The commercial EV charging landscape in the UK has been evolving rapidly over the past couple of years, mainly driven by pressure from the government to achieve net zero by 2050 and banning the sale and production of gasoline vehicles by 2035. This has sped up the adoption of EVs and demand for EV charging stations, especially in terms of public EV charging and commercial EV charging. Currently, there are nearly 54,000 public charge points in the UK across 31,000 locations, which is a 45% increase from the previous year. 

In terms of commercial businesses, many are investing in EV charging infrastructure to support their corporate fleets, including dedicated charging stations at office locations, depots, and logistics hubs to facilitate the transition to electric or hybrid fleets. This is being expedited by compelling tax incentives and currently, three out of four new electric vehicles are registered to fleets.

The Future of EV Charging Technology 

The future of EV charging technology in commercial settings is likely to see significant advancements driven by a range of factors such as technological innovation, sustainability goals, market demand and new regulations. Here are our predictions on EV charging technology in the coming years. 

Battery Development

The future of EV charging technology in commercial settings will inevitably be impacted by new EV battery innovations and development. Much research is going into battery development to tackle some of the biggest challenges surrounding driving an EV: range anxiety and charging times. As demand for EVs grows, there will be a correlation in the demand for cheaper and better EV batteries that last longer and are also made from more environmentally friendly materials. IBM Research is just one example of innovative research going into EV batteries, whereby they are developing the use of new battery chemistry that is free from heavy metals and outperforms lithium-ion batteries, made using materials extracted from seawater. 

Faster Public Charging

Continued development of technology and innovation will see higher-powered charging stations that allow for faster charging times, which are particularly useful for commercial EV drivers and fleets, as well as businesses providing public charging stations. Current EV drivers have to factor in up to an hour of charging time into their journey preparations, whereas in the future we could see EVs charge in a matter of minutes, due to these higher-powered charging stations. 

Wireless Charging

Wireless EV charging is already available but it is likely to become more developed and mainstream, offering a more convenient charging experience for EV drivers, particularly in commercial settings. Wireless charging means no charging cables are required and drivers will simply drive onto a charging pad, much like how you can wirelessly charge some smartphones. This will create significant change in the industry and is predicted to become more widespread within fleets and high-traffic commercial areas. 

Renewable Energy Integrations

Increased integration of renewable energy resources and energy storage systems with EV charge points is predicted for the coming years. Commercial facilities will be able to better manage their energy consumption, reduce costs as well as reduce their carbon footprint by relying solely on renewable energy resources such as solar power and wind turbines to power their EV charge points, taking pressure off the energy grid. The integration of renewable energy will further improve the sustainability of EVs. 

Advancements in Smart Charging 

Many believe that smart charging is the absolute future of EV charging. Smart charging cloud-based technology enables a link between an EV, the charge point and the energy grid and allows businesses to monitor multiple aspects of the charging process. For example, monitoring energy consumption and optimising it accordingly with the most optimal time to charge, which is influenced by demand, energy prices and charge point availability. This gives businesses better control over their charge point systems and allows them to create custom models for their EV charge point’s usage, whether that be for internal business use or for the public. 

Future advancements will also allow for more advanced software and communications systems that will allow for acute remote monitoring opportunities that will go above and beyond the current fault detection capabilities and include predicted maintenance. 

Flexible Scalability

With EV adoption only predicted to rise, so will the demand for EV charging infrastructure. Commercial businesses therefore will need to easily adapt to the increased demand and scale their charge point systems. This is done currently with the foresight of initially installing the necessary infrastructure to accommodate future scalability, but a more flexible approach is likely to be on the cards in the coming years. Solutions that can easily be expanded and reconfigured based on the evolving needs of the commercial site and charging demand are key to sustaining a growing EV-driving nation. 

Dedicated Fleet Solutions 

Commercial fleets are expected to play an even more significant role in the adoption of EVs over the coming years. Therefore we predict there will be a focus on the development of charging infrastructure specifically designed for commercial fleets including depots, warehouses, logistic hubs and more. Solutions would target issues faced by electric fleets and could consist of more highly-powered EV chargers, advanced fleet management software or dedicated wireless charging bays and car parks. 

New Build Regulations

As demand for EV charging infrastructure increases, we may see a change in building and government regulations that will require the installation of EV charge points or infrastructure to do so in the future for all new builds and developments, especially in commercial settings to encourage EV uptake within the workforce. 

More Support & Incentives 

With the goal to be net-zero by 2050, it’s likely there will be more government incentives in the way of grants and tax relief to encourage the uptake of EVs and the installation of EV charge points in commercial settings. 

Partnerships & Collaborations

The future of EV charging technology will see an increased number of partnerships and collaborations within the industry as demand increases and EV driving becomes a way of life for everyone. We may see collaborations between charging infrastructure providers, utility companies, vehicle manufacturers and even commercial property owners. Partnerships within other tech areas are also likely to overlap with the EV charging industry, helping to accelerate the deployment of charging infrastructure, the capabilities of EV charge points and user experience. 

Enhanced User Experience

User experience is something we think will be a big focus for future EV charging technology in commercial settings as we now understand the challenges facing EV drivers and users of current EV chargers. Out-of-order charge points, large queues and bad charging etiquette are all issues currently faced, so future technology advancements are sure to focus on fixing these in the form of virtual queuing and reservation systems, real-time availability tracking and loyalty programmes. 

AI Integration 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a part of day-to-day life and will be included in any future technology trends and predictions. When it comes to EV charging technology in commercial settings, it is thought that AI and data analytics will help optimise the placement of EV charging stations on a site, predict demand and improve overall efficiencies within the system. AI could automatically adjust charging rates based on grid conditions and user patterns, giving businesses the ability to focus their efforts elsewhere as they leave the charge point management to AI.

Commercial EV Charging with eFaraday 

There is a lot to look forward to when it comes to the future of EV charging technology in commercial settings. From better and faster charge points to AI management and automation, as well as the increased integration of renewable resources there is a lot of positive advancement to be made concerning sustainability, efficiency and customer experience. 

At eFaraday, we stay on top of the newest technologies and development within the industry and are innovators in our own right. We work with the top partners in the game to install, monitor, maintain and manage all aspects of a 5* commercial EV charge point system. We know what it takes to create a successful charge point system that keeps customers happy, drives efficiencies and provides a quality ROI. 

Talk to the team to find out more about how we can support your business.