Britain’s Octopus Energy has partnered with Elmtronics to offer simpler charging solutions for business fleets.
Octopus, the UK’s fifth-largest energy supplier, and Elmtronics will work together to supply, install, maintain, and manage the back-office functions required for charging points.
The partners are also hoping to educate and support businesses in their mission to introduce electric vehicles into their fleets.
“Fleets and businesses are increasingly looking to transition to electric vehicles, but the additional complexities of introducing charging can be daunting for some. The partnership between Octopus Energy and Elmtronics will make the process of switching to an electric fleet as simple and painless as possible for its customers will make a real difference to businesses across the UK,” says Dan Martin, CEO of Elmtronics.
“This is just the start of what we hope is our vision to provide a full solution to our business customers, bringing electric vehicle charging and renewable energy together as a full package.”
The new partnership expands on an existing relationship between the two companies. In October 2020, the partners signed a roaming agreement to allow Octopus Energy customers to charge on Elmtronics’ Hubsta network using the Octopus’ Electric Juice Network.
The Hubsta network is used by thousands of business customers and the integration with Octopus’ Electric Juice Network simplifies charging on the go for customers by removing the need for different cards and apps, rolling charging costs into a single bill.
“We’re excited to be working with like-minded Elmtronics to help more businesses in the UK switch to clean, electric cars. Octopus Energy is among the companies doing the most to push the electric car revolution in the UK, and being able to bring more infrastructure to businesses that want to electrify their fleet and go carbon neutral can only be a positive thing,” says John Szymik, CEO of Octopus Energy Services, the arm of Octopus Energy Group responsible for charge point installations.
“Octopus Energy and Elmtronics will work together to keep making it easier for business customers to go electric, by offering charge point supply, install and aftercare all rolled up into one.”
The first customer for the new partnership will be the Wye Valley Brewery, a family-owned craft beer producer in Hereford. Two dual charge points have been installed in the brewer’s customer car park for visitors, with another two in the staff parking area for employees. The brewery, an existing Octopus Energy customer, is aiming to become carbon neutral and has already taken delivery of its first EVs.
Over the last year, Elmtronics has seen demand for its charge points growing – with a 50% uplift in its customer base. The company has now installed 2,600 sockets for business across the UK with customers including BMW, Nissan, FedEx and the NHS.
From this year, The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles’ workplace charging scheme grant is expanding with more support for SMEs, small accommodation businesses, and charities, who can claim a grant of up to £850 per parking bay, up to a maximum of £15,000.
Keyword: Octopus Energy and Elmtronics Team Up to Help UK Businesses Charge