Ross Cooney

Just written >> Be.EV opens new charging hub in Sheffield https://lnkd.in/efjnkp5P via the interface

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Thanks to Auto Express for this interview. We've got a problem in the UK - residents need to apply for planning permission for a small wallbox EV charger to go on the front of their house unless they've got a driveway. This made total sense before cross-pavement channels existed as we don't want to encourage people to trail cables over pavements. But now that 40+ councils are trialling Kerbo Charge and also competitor products, it's time to change this secondary legislation so planning permission for chargers is not required IF the resident is getting a council approved EV charging channel. We need this common sense change or adoption of #EVs by the 40% without driveways risks being further slowed. Matthew Adams Bill Esterson Ian Mach Mark Constable #sustainability #netzero #climateaction #electricvehicles #urbanplanning

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Hurrah. Some media balance. 👏 We've felt the force of inaccurate media reporting these past couple of weeks. Clients having doubts. Investors questioning if EVs are going to happen. Nothing that we haven't been able to overcome but it's been lost time and energy we've had to expend to make up for the loss in confidence caused by at best poor reporting and at worst reporting with an 'agenda'. Truth generates speed. Speed = increased impact. Impact = a chance of improvement / progress / clean air / cost saving (add positive adjective here).

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Great progress from UK CPO's with 46% YoY growth of the number of charging devices, huge increase (128%) on the number of Hub locations which is a great achievement due the effort, time, and cost involved so well done to all those CPO's. And despite the sometimes long lead times for connections, it's nice to see the installation rate increase as well - achieved with the support of some great CPO installation partners. Let's hope which ever party is in power by the end of the day they commit to supporting the ChargeUK manifesto by removing more barriers, streamlining the deployment process, providing a supportive regulatory framework, and reduce VAT on public charging to support drivers and fleet operators making the switch to e-mobility. Still work to do but very positive insights from shown here from Zapmap! #evcharging #zeroemissions #airquality #electricvehicles

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This week's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Transport News Brief lead comment, Political change by the busload hree weeks on from the General Election and the Kings Speech followed through on Labour’s manifesto commitments to improve many of the UK’s wider industrial needs that will have a significant positive impact on the automotive sector, from green and affordable energy to improved trade relationships, skills reform, gigafactories and grid infrastructure. The programme had an obvious focus on economic growth so it’s pleasing that growing England’s bus fleet is an early priority within that wider mission. After all, a booming bus sector is so important for local communities and regional economies to thrive too. With bus franchising already well established in London, where the majority of Britain’s zero emission buses have been rolled out, the Better Buses Bill can be a significant enablers for local authorities to deliver their own decarbonisation goals. In addition to improving local air quality, the modern passenger experience that zero emission buses provide can also help increase ridership levels, as studies such as the Welsh Government’s TrawsCymru T1 pilot service have found, https://lnkd.in/eRgUVaGj. All commercial vehicle sectors need equal support, however, if decarbonisation is going to be a success. From vans and minibuses to heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and coaches, delivering more public charging infrastructure is the key to accelerating uptake of the very greenest models. While the Plug-in Van Grant must remain in place until we reach a point where infrastructure is no longer a barrier to making the switch, the HGV sector urgently needs a more timely Plug-in Truck Grant that’s fit for a new generation of fleets, this was part of the SMMT paper launched at the CV Show in April https://lnkd.in/eYQbKwyX. The previous government’s plans for a minibus driving licence derogation, meanwhile, which would have qualified standard licence holders to drive zero emission vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes has real potential to boost electric adoption. It’s crucial that this legislation makes the transition to new government in the near future. SMMT looks forward to making the priorities of our commercial vehicle members clear in our representation to the new government, however, another major benefit of membership is the business networking and partnership opportunities we provide. One such instance came last week with SMMT’s Meet the Van Converter, connecting light commercial vehicle manufacturers and van converters in one-to-one meetings. With more than 25 businesses and some 57 meetings, feedback from businesses was outstanding. If you’re not a member and would like to get involved, please get in touch via [email protected].

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There is less than 6 weeks to go until #ConnectedBritain so what better timing than to announce the next 6 Startups joining us within the Startup Village 🙌 Here is a glimpse of what they do: Advanced EV UK - At Advanced EV, they are your end-to-end solution for seamless and tailored electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. Their comprehensive approach begins with an initial audit or survey of your site, ensuring a thorough understanding of your unique requirements and challenges. This critical first step allows them to provide a personalized and efficient charging solution. They take pride in delivering not just products, but custom-tailored solutions designed specifically for your company's needs. Their team of experts collaborates closely with you to identify the most suitable charging infrastructure, considering factors such as site layout, energy capacity, and future scalability. Ai8 - Ai8 is a commercial AI lab building the OS for human:machine teams. Through solving an array of problems at the human-machine interface - from task and team orchestration, to governance, audit and oracalised control of agents - they use advanced machine learning to integrate companies with AI. connected - Connected is determined to provide easily accessible connectivity for everyone, everything, everywhere. Their vision aims at affordably connecting humankind, unleashing a new wave of IoT-based business models, while improving citizens’ quality of life and contributing to bridge the digital divide Count - Count is your first digital wallet that you can use with your face. It as easy as unlocking your phone. Speaking of which, you don't need your phone, nor a username or password to use Count. With Count, you can seamlessly digitize and store things. Think of your credit card, passport, your addresses, mobile number or access credentials. You can always use or share your stored information with one look. EV Mobiliti Limited - An innovative company whose mission is to solve and simplify the challenges of EV adoption through smart use of tech. Fleevo - Fleevo is the first AI-powered Data Integration and Analytics System for Commercial Fleets. Don't miss out on the opportunity to connect with startups such as these in our buzzing Startup Village. #ConnectedBritain #Innovation #Digitaleconomy #5G #Startups #Tech

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The latest issue of TCT Mag will be landing with our print subscribers this week and, as ever, it's packed with loads of original #3Dprinting editorial ⬇️ For our #automotive and #rail focus, I spoke to BMW Group about its use of AM to deploy 'bionic' robotic grippers across its production system. Sam Davies found out more about Airtech Advanced Materials Group's TCT Award winning project that helped propel Brumos Motorsport to success. I paid a visit to Derby to find out how DB ESG is leveraging 3D technologies to solve challenges along the rail supply chain (plus I managed to cram in a Tomb Raider reference... because why wouldn't I?) From our new podcast series, The Feedback Loop, we learned how Toyota Motor Corporation is putting Axtra3D's technology to work. And I met with Stewart-Haas Racing to learn how it's using 3D Systems Corporation's machines and materials to claim victories on the racetrack. In materials, I had a conversation with Stratasys about its development of new materials for hyper-realistic medical models (Also, flip your mag on its side and check out our Stratasys-sponsored poster-style Application Spotlight for more on medical modelling). Sam caught up with Martin Back to find out more about Forward AM's carve out from BASF. And I had a chat with the brilliant Olga "Dr.O" Ivanova about Mechnano's proprietary carbon nanotube technology. For our diversity feature, as you'll hear on this week's podcast, I had a chat with Stacey DelVecchio about why now, more than ever, we need to keep talking about diversity in engineering and manufacturing. Sam learned how Alexis Dabee-Saltmarsh (MIET, FHEA) is integrating DEI into aerospace and motorsport engineering academia. And we put some questions to this year's TCT Sanjay Mortimer Foundation Rising Star Award winner Lottie Bridgewater about building accessible products and being an ambassador for neurodiverse women in engineering. Plus, 3D Systems take the cover with its PSLA 270, which it believes will usher in the next generation of AM. In research, Sam spoke to Amy Locks at UCL about 3D printing developments for tailored therapeutics. Biomaterials specialist Sarah King explores how waste materials can create opportunities for AM. I report back from Realize LIVE where Siemens Digital Industries Software talked #AI, the industrial #metaverse, and a little AM. This issue also includes our annual UK AM Service Provider Map, so we asked the people behind the prints for their top tips and success stories. Subscribe here to get your FREE print copy >> https://lnkd.in/ekxxyMbH Read the digital edition here >> https://lnkd.in/eSCWXsJX Thanks to our team Sam Davies, Carol Cooper and Matthew Clarke!

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Last week's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Transport News Brief lead comment, UK production needs to be next government’s central focus Last week saw SMMT publish May’s commercial vehicle production figures – down -59.3% on last year, and the third consecutive month of decline. Temporary supply chain shortages have impacted some of the production output, but we are also seeing that factories are responding to a downturn in order books as we adjust to the new normal. UK commercial vehicle production is a key contributor to the UK economy – and earlier this week SMMT launched Vision 2035: Ready To Grow, which calls on the next government to work in partnership with the automotive industry to unleash its full potential and deliver growth worth £50 billion over the next decade. A key part of this is the UK’s vehicle production, and the vision highlights how to increase the UK’s global competitiveness in electric light vehicle production, which would deliver a cumulative £290 billion increase in value up to the end of 2035. With CV production found in every part of the UK – not to mention a vast supply chain supporting the industry both home and abroad – success will drive growth across the nation. With the general election one week away, SMMT is now looking to the next government, which ever colour, to invest in UK factories as they transition their production lines to make zero emission models. With almost 70% of UK CV production destined for export, it is vital that Britain continues to work to secure the best possible trading conditions for this key contributor the economy. The paper was launch as part of SMMT’s International Automotive Summit, which as ever included a diverse range of speakers from the commercial vehicle and bus sectors. It was no surprise that most of the discussions were around what will happen post 4 July. The overwhelming opinion was that the next government need to produce a clear strategy for how charging infrastructure will be funded for the rollout of zero emission trucks and buses – critical for encouraging greater adoption. Plus, while the UK has a growing zero emission supply chain that produces almost every component needed, the reality is the need to scale up. For ZEVs to achieve the levels of UK content currently seen in British-produced ICE vehicles, there’s a real need to turbocharge investment. Vehicle production is often called the jewel in the crown of the UK economy – whatever the election result next week, let’s hope that the right steps are taken to ensure it continues to shine.

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Where do you charge you Electric Vehicle when not at home? 🗺️New Zapmap statistics have shown that the UK has surpassed 60,000 public charging points. The first four months of the year have seen an average of more than 1,900 devices installed every month, up from the 2023 average of 1,400 per month. 🔌The 60,000 figure comprises a number of different types of chargers including en-route charging for longer journeys, charging provision at destinations, as well as lower-powered charge points on residential streets.   ⚡Zapmap’s statistics show that the number of ultra-rapid devices – designed for en-route charging - has increased by 135% since April 2023. There are now 4,988 of these devices across the country. Melanie Shufflebotham, Co-founder & COO at Zapmap, said:“Hitting 60,000 public charging devices is an extremely significant milestone for electric car drivers across the country. “Without a doubt, it is great news for electric car drivers that not only the sheer number but also the variety of charging options are improving every month.” 📈Looking ahead, given the current rate of installation, Zapmap’s calculations show that the UK is likely to reach 100,000 public charging devices as early as August 2025. https://lnkd.in/gDSRYQ3J #networking #smallbusiness #commercialproperty #womeninbusiness #growth #management #costefficient #grants #commerciallending #commercialfinance #accountants

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The regional differences here highlight the need for greater collaboration and support to ensure that no council is left behind in building a robust charging network. These differences also impact businesses and fleets, who depend on equitable access to reliable charging infrastructure, regardless of location.. #electricvehicles #evcharging #publicchargingregulations

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This week, Neil Smith (Motorvait CEO) and I (Akeno Ltd CEO) had the pleasure of running a joint 'discovery session' with two rising stars in the UK Automotive industry, specifically in the used car retail sector— Joanna Smith and Jodie Barber of Wink Cars in Tipton. It was inspiring to hear about their journey and their ambitious plans for the future.   I’m not positioning this post as a shout-out just because they’re doing well in a male-dominated industry—it's more than that. What stood out was how well these two entrepreneurs are navigating the highly competitive used car market. Their drive, ambition, work ethic, and determination to make their business a success were evident during our Teams conversation. Well done, Jodie and Jo! As we mentioned during the call, feel free to reach out to either of us, if you want to sanity-check any business decisions moving forward; we’re more than happy to help.   Neil and I have collaborated on projects, working with both large dealer groups and smaller independents, and we’ve found that our skill sets complement each other exceptionally well. Neil brings deep expertise in the operational aspects of vehicle retailing (vehicle sourcing, preparation, pricing, marketing, and sales) while I focus on people, culture, change management, and ultimately, business transformation. We also share a common ground in process improvement. When we collaborate on a project, large or small, there’s no aspect of a vehicle retailing business (sales and aftersales) that we can’t positively impact.   So, borrowing from the celebrity portmanteau trend (think Bennifer—Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez), we’re excited to announce the launch of Akenovait! This new initiative combines the best of Akeno ('Making your future bright through pragmatic and engaging business transformation') with Motorvait ('Driving sustainable dealer profitability by advising, informing, and connecting dealers with innovative, customer-centric, value-add automotive products and services.')   Although, we promise sustainable change that'll last longer than a Bennifer marriage!   Together, we offer a comprehensive and accessible package aimed at delivering a positive impact on performance for any UK automotive business.   So, what exactly is a 'discovery session'?   We spend time learning about your business to identify challenges, but also strengths to expand upon. After the session, we identify areas where there may be gaps and put together a plan of action. At this point, you can either address those gaps internally, or engage with Akenovait on a commercial basis.   In simple terms, it's about ‘knowing your onions’ and ‘squeezing the business’: understand your challenges, and identify where support is needed.   Watch this space for more about Akenovait in the coming weeks. Right now, we have a limited number of free discovery sessions available on a first-come, first-served basis, so reach out to get booked in, we promise it'll be valuable! #automotive

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ElectricDrives reports on a significant 49% rise in public charging, year on year, since April 2023. char.gy CEO, John Lewis, wisely comments: “We’re delighted by the progress outlined in the recent DfT report, which reveals a robust 49% year-on-year growth, resulting in nearly 60,000 charge points now installed. Particularly encouraging is the expansion of the on-street network, which has now reached 22,000 charge points, accounting for over a third of all charging solutions. Given that 99% of UK journeys average less than 100 miles, the availability of charging solutions near people’s homes is crucial. While the report also highlights regions that still require substantial development, the introduction of the LEVI Fund positions the UK well. We are poised to fuel the next crucial stage of growth, further enhancing public on-street charging and addressing rural and traditionally underserved regions." The crucial public confidence issue of charging will be a big theme at this year's EV SUMMIT, with our partners Auto Trader UK, Vauxhall Motors Ltd, Lucy Group Ltd, Gilbarco Veeder-Root, ChargeGuru, Plug Me In, Paythru Evolt Charging and Kerbo Charge. #evs #electricvehicles #emobility #sustainability

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Out of curiosity to the answer I asked chat GPT to do a search and give me an update on the market and how EV’s are helping business’ So I thought I would share the response it created with you. What do you think of ai and the way it gathers information and relays it to us ? 💻 💻 🤖 🤖 The UK EV industry is projected to continue its growth over the next 12 months, although some challenges remain. In 2024, the battery electric vehicle (BEV) market share is expected to be around 21%, with over 400,000 new units predicted to be sold, marking a significant increase from the previous year. Government targets, such as the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, will push manufacturers to ensure 22% of new car sales are EVs in 2024, ramping up to 80% by 2030. For businesses, investing in EVs can offer substantial financial benefits. The UK government offers incentives, including reduced Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax rates for company car drivers of EVs, making EVs a more cost-effective option for fleets. Capital expenditure on EV charging infrastructure is becoming increasingly vital, especially as the shift to electric vehicles accelerates. Smaller businesses may also qualify for grants under the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), which provides up to £350 per socket, covering 75% of installation costs for companies with fewer than 250 employees With these benefits and policies encouraging adoption, businesses can not only reduce operating costs but also enhance their sustainability credentials, preparing for a future where EVs are the norm. #ai #ev #ozev #zevmandate

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Are we failing potential EV drivers by adding too many layers of complexity to overcome? I've talked to many people who are interested in stepping into the EV arena, but who have found the whole scenario daunting and very complex, ultimately putting them off buying an EV. If someone buys an petrol or diesel vehicle, they research the vehicle, decide which one they want, purchase it and then go to the fuel station to fill up. Then they are on their way, as one fuel station is very much like any other fuel station. With an EV, you go through that same purchasing process to buy the car, but you then have to consider how you are going to charge it. If you are one of the 60% of homes with off street parking, you might want a home charger installed, where you have to research which one suits your needs - tethered, untethered, solar input etc. You then have to find someone to install it, and you also have to determine how it works - from the screen or an app, or just leave it and let the EV control it. Which is best? You also have to determine which energy tariff is best to use to get the cheapest motoring costs. If that EV driver wants to use a public charger, which do they use? 7kW, 22kW, 100kW? How do they pay? Do you have to download yet another app to use the charger, noting that every company appears to have a different app, and then have to fill in all the requisite details and your inside leg measurement just to be able to use the charger? How does the charger work, because many seem to operate slightly differently to each other? What happens if it goes wrong and who do you contact? You can't just go into the store and ask for help as you can with a fuel pump. So the industry has effectively placed a number of hurdles in the way for potential EV drivers that can make it very difficult for many to enter the EV arena in the first place. To me, we need to make the transition to EVs as simple as possible for the customer, and remove all the hurdles and layers of complexity, and steps are starting to be implemented to ease that burden. On 24 November 2024, the UK Government policy comes in calling for all new public chargers over 8kW to have contactless payment methods, but you still have that challenge with apps etc if you want to use a 7kW for perhaps overnight on-street charging. All established public chargers above 50kW must also have a contactless payment solution. Some companies like Volkswagen Group UK Ltd and Audi UK offer a package of an EV and a home charger, and others like Octopus Electric Vehicles offer a complete package of EV, charger and energy supplier. Tesla developed a solution where you plug your Tesla into a public Tesla charger and walk away, as the car is recognised by the charger and payment is automatic. The industry is getting there, but we still have a long way to go to make the transition to EV as easy as possible for the customer. Thoughts? #automotiveindustry #electricvehicles #ev #evcharging

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This week's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Transport News Brief lead comment, ZEV transition is a marathon, but we must pick up the pace SMMT’s latest registration figures for the new light commercial vehicle market shows almost 24,700 new vans, taxis, 4x4s and pickups joined UK roads in July – a dip in demand, but that’s unsurprising given it’s a comparison with July 2023, the month’s best performance in three years, and came in the middle of a record-equalling 17 consecutive months of market growth. Robust demand over the year so far has been supported by manufacturers launching new models, which include very attractive zero emission ones, with 28 now available to UK buyers – treble what was available this time last year. However, it’s concerning that electric uptake continues to decline, down -7.0% to represent 5.1% of the market. Some 10% of each marque’s sales must be zero emission across 2024. While the Vehicle Emissions Trading Scheme provides some flexibility, manufacturer investment in more cutting-edge, competitive EVs cannot single-handedly drive market transition at the pace required. The new government can accelerate the market shift through easy wins – for example, by bringing forward legislation planned by the previous government to amend driver derogations for electric vehicles weighing more than 4.25 tonnes, unleashing fleet investment and decarbonisation in LCVs and minibuses. Continuing the Plug-in Van Grant beyond its current end date in April 2025 is also a necessary feature of the LCV transition, alongside greater rollout of van-suitable public charging infrastructure – be it LCV-dedicated chargers or shared hubs. The technology is here – the challenge is to ensure accessible, affordable zero emission mobility for all.

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Our Managing Director, Tom Bloor, spoke with Startups Magazine on the importance for expanding the UK's electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Here’s why SMEs hold the keys to making it happen: 🔌 We need more chargers. Only 65,000 public charging points for 40 million vehicles isn’t cutting it. 🏢 Government targets are ambitious, but 300,000 charging points is still not enough. 💼 Whether you install chargers for employees, charge for public use, or lobby for more public charging, SMEs can make a real difference. "The planned phasing out of petrol and diesel cars is just over 5 years away. There needs to be a revolution in public charging if it is to work and SMEs can and should play a massive part in this." Read more from Tom on the full article in Startups Magazine 👇 https://lnkd.in/eyt5cinX #EVcharging #Sustainability #SMEs #UKBusiness #ElectricVehicles

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It's great to see dirty diesels declining ⬇ and BEVs continuing to increase ⬆ their market share in the latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) May new car registration stats. 😁 go zero #Evs #electriccars

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