Context
ChargePoint as a Service installs electric vehicle (EV) chargers for no upfront cost in return for a fixed term subscription
CPaaS reduces overhead costs and offer predictable operational expenses
CPaaS also proactively monitors stations to identify and fix technical issues remotely and enables businesses to track performance and utilization.
Georgia Power (a utilities company in Georgia) and Pivet Atlanta, an automotive company has partnered with ChargePoint to install EV chargers in a major travel corridor.
Stakeholders involved
- ChargePoint
- Clients
Problem
For fleet managers, investment in EV charging stations avoided due to huge investment demand, concerns about under-utilisation, management, and pricing.
The state of Georgia is a region that has historically lacked mandates and incentive programs in transportation electrification which has caused the region to fall behind in EV uptake in comparison to other states in the US.
Innovation
ChargePoint retains asset ownership of the charging stations so they are able to significantly reduce the cost of entry for customers through monthly subscription pricing.
ChargePoint uses annual OpEx funds to pay for charging infrastructure while conserving CapEx funds.
Timeline
Results and impact
By August 2020, through the Pivet Atlanta project with Georgia Power and Pivot, ChargePoint has installed ten DC fast and 20 Level 2 fleet EV chargers at the 25-acre Pivet Atlanta facility located in a former “EV charging desert” between downtown and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The installations aim to support fleet electrification, including the powering of Lyft Express Drive program which is currently operated out of Pivet Atlanta.
The charging stations installed utilise a time-of-use charge rate to provide low cost fueling during off-peak hours. In addition, ChargePoint’s vertically integrated cloud network services allow Pivet to monitor and collect comprehensive data on charging sessions and station usage to gain insight into charging patterns and requirements of local users. The charging installations will function as a learning opportunity to support the transition of fleets to zero-emission electric vehicles.
Future scalability: Capacity has also been built into Georgia Power’s electric design for the anticipated EV expansion in the coming years. This includes the installation of DC Fast Chargers that can be combined to provide 125kW high-output charging for the larger batteries of the future.
Key lessons learnt
In underserved EV markets and jurisdictions that lack favourable government incentives, business models such as ChargePoint are able to fill the gap, offering free installation of EV charging stations to be paid off from monthly subscription fees thereafter.
Scalability: ChargePoint planned to initially focus on training their installers. But to ensure future scalability of training in terms of reaching a larger number of audiences, a mobile-friendly training model was deployed. This platform allowed installers to train anywhere and anytime on-the-go while out in the field. A Salesforce integration was also utilised to train and track audiences/installers. Automated certifications and reminders were also used to keep their partners’ training up to date.