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Power Struggle: The Real Cost of Building an EV Charging Network
Curious what goes into powering up the EV revolution? In the latest Auto Futurecast episode, we unpack the nuts and bolts of charging infrastructure with Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV.
Fast Facts from Our Conversation with Asif:
- Start-Up to Scale: Founded in 2021, Be.EV now operates across Greater Manchester, backed by £110 million from Octopus Energy Generation.
- Reality Check: Building charging sites isn’t plug-and-play—it involves site leases for 20-25 years, up to two years of development, and patient capital.
- Field Research: Be.EV’s team studies user behavior by spending hours in car parks, ensuring chargers fit people’s real routines.
- User Experience: Expectations have shifted:
- Early adopters loved to chat; today’s users just want quick, fuss-free charging.
- Supports contactless, app, and chip-and-pin payments to minimize friction.
- Auto-charge is the goal—a seamless, “just plug in and go” experience.
- Oasis Concept: The new Charging Oasis in Manchester breaks the petrol-station mold:
- Circular layout maximizes space and safety.
- Designed for how people actually behave during longer charging stops.
- Costs & Returns:
- £500K–£1M per site with a seven-year payback.
- Only 4% of cars are EVs now, but the real growth comes as numbers reach 30%.
- Lean core team (30–40 people); construction and maintenance are outsourced.
- Market Trends:
- Around 150 charge point operators in the UK—but consolidation is likely.
- Some seek site contracts first and hope funding follows; Be.EV secured funding up front for more stability.
Why It Matters:
- Cleaner Air: Cutting road emissions is core to Be.EV’s mission. Infrastructure is the foundation of a more sustainable transport future.
- Patience Required: Building for tomorrow’s demand means investing ahead of the curve and obsessing over the customer experience.
Want more?
We release a new episode every two weeks focussing on the latest trends in automotive, technology and the mobility space. Expect lots of talk around EVs, AI and AVs.
Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform or head on over to Youtube to view all episodes.
https://www.youtube.com/@autofuturecast
View all episodes
By Chris KirbyCurious what goes into powering up the EV revolution? In the latest Auto Futurecast episode, we unpack the nuts and bolts of charging infrastructure with Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV.
Fast Facts from Our Conversation with Asif:
- Start-Up to Scale: Founded in 2021, Be.EV now operates across Greater Manchester, backed by £110 million from Octopus Energy Generation.
- Reality Check: Building charging sites isn’t plug-and-play—it involves site leases for 20-25 years, up to two years of development, and patient capital.
- Field Research: Be.EV’s team studies user behavior by spending hours in car parks, ensuring chargers fit people’s real routines.
- User Experience: Expectations have shifted:
- Early adopters loved to chat; today’s users just want quick, fuss-free charging.
- Supports contactless, app, and chip-and-pin payments to minimize friction.
- Auto-charge is the goal—a seamless, “just plug in and go” experience.
- Oasis Concept: The new Charging Oasis in Manchester breaks the petrol-station mold:
- Circular layout maximizes space and safety.
- Designed for how people actually behave during longer charging stops.
- Costs & Returns:
- £500K–£1M per site with a seven-year payback.
- Only 4% of cars are EVs now, but the real growth comes as numbers reach 30%.
- Lean core team (30–40 people); construction and maintenance are outsourced.
- Market Trends:
- Around 150 charge point operators in the UK—but consolidation is likely.
- Some seek site contracts first and hope funding follows; Be.EV secured funding up front for more stability.
Why It Matters:
- Cleaner Air: Cutting road emissions is core to Be.EV’s mission. Infrastructure is the foundation of a more sustainable transport future.
- Patience Required: Building for tomorrow’s demand means investing ahead of the curve and obsessing over the customer experience.
Want more?
We release a new episode every two weeks focussing on the latest trends in automotive, technology and the mobility space. Expect lots of talk around EVs, AI and AVs.
Subscribe on your favourite podcast platform or head on over to Youtube to view all episodes.
https://www.youtube.com/@autofuturecast