EDF Energy sets out plans to support EV uptake in the UK

Jean-Bernard Lévy, Chairman and CEO of EDF, has launched the company’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Plan, which details its aim to be the leading energy company supporting electric vehicles by 2022 across its four largest European markets: France, United Kingdom, Italy and Belgium.

EDF Energy already has almost 20 years’ experience in the UK EV market, having installed the first charging points into London in 1999 and powering the EV charging network across Olympic sites for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Over the coming years, EDF Energy has committed to converting its whole fleet to electric vehicles by 2030; the process has already started in the UK with some initial vehicles and charge points in place at its key generation and customer sites in Barnwood and Hove.

It aims to build strategic partnerships, like the one with Nissan Europe (see http://www.greenfleet.net/news/11102018/nissan-and-edf-energy-partner-e…), to work together on a number of projects that will support the adoption of electric vehicles, energy generation and storage solutions.

EDF Energy will also continue to invest in the trialling smart charging, with a number of vehicle to grid trials already in process, as well as develop its offers for business and residential customers to ensure it has the best tariffs to support the move to electric vehicles.

Commenting on the plan, Béatrice Bigois, Managing Director of Customers at EDF Energy said: “It is time to be more ambitious about low carbon transport if we are to reduce our carbon emissions. As an industry we have a huge opportunity, and responsibility, to make electric vehicles an easy and obvious choice for all our customers.  This is why we will be investing in the best technology and products, creating the right mix of charging technology and incentives, and helping customers and businesses realise the benefits of EV as soon as possible.

“We will be playing our part too. EDF Group was the first French company to join the EV100, making a public commitment to convert its entire global fleet to electric vehicles by 2030, and we are already progressing our plans to support this with the EDF Energy fleet in the UK.”

EDF Energy is trialling a one stop shop for all customer EV needs, offering consultancy, vehicles (via Arval), infrastructure (via ChargePoint Services & Phoenix Works), energy supply, and EV charging management systems.