Customer Insight: Getting Ahead of EV Driver Behavior

As the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road increases, so too must the number of charging stations. UK Charge Point Operator (CPO) PoGo Charge spoke to us recently on how they see a mass uptake of EVs changing driver behavior, and what they are doing to anticipate their charging needs.

The UK still finds itself in the early stages of EV adoption. With around 3% of all cars on the roads being all electric there is still a way to go before the country can consider itself an EV-first nation.

But, this does not mean that the transition will be a slow one, and once the leap is made to the early majority using EVs as their daily vehicles, it is likely that EV driving behavior will shift dramatically.

This behavioral shift could become a big hurdle for charge point operators and the EV industry at large. Stuart Douglas, MD of PoGo Charge, recently spoke to us on the topic, during a rich and varied discussion on the advantages of data for charge point site selection, alongside the trends and challenges within EV infrastructure

As more people start using EVs as their main mode of personal transport, current driver habits will change, and so will their charging habits. For many early adopters, an electric vehicle was perhaps used for a single, or limited number of purposes - the family hobby car, or the commute-to-work car. As wider adoption occurs, the EV will become a driver’s all-purpose vehicle, and the charging possibilities must be able to serve their needs across a diverse range of scenarios and locations. 

This new usage pattern is something being anticipated by PoGo Charge. As a Dodona customer, it continues to build its ultra-rapid and rapid charging network across the UK, and the impact this will have on site selection is not to be underestimated. Charge point operators need to be thinking about how these EVs will be used and where, and not just using today’s demographics as their guide.

“Beyond traditional sites like service stations, there is interest in more innovative locations for chargers, such as retail parks and hospitality venues, to offer consumers more convenient and diverse charging options.”
- Stuart Douglas, Managing Director, Pogo Charge

You can hear more of what Stuart has to say in this in-depth conversation he recently had with Dodona’s Co-Founder and VP US Chris Chamberlain:

About Pogo Charge

PoGo Charge is a UK-wide EV charging network offering ultra-rapid, rapid and destination charging for electric vehicle drivers.

Derived from the concept of enabling drivers to ‘Power Up. Go Adventure’, PoGo is being built to help accelerate the UK’s transition to sustainable transportation and play a role in reducing carbon emissions. PoGo charging locations offer multiple charging options, which are regularly serviced and maintained by an experienced team of EV-driving engineers and powered by 100% renewable energy. PoGo works with landlords to identify the right charging locations and then takes care of the installation, operation, and maintenance of its market leading charging technology.

Find out more on their website: https://pogocharge.com/