Member Article

adi sets course for the electric revolution with new vehicle charging division

A surge in popularity for electric cars has led a major engineering firm to launch a new division as it looks to explore the developing market.

The innovative adi Vehicle Charging Solutions (VCS), part of the automotive wing of the Birmingham-based adi Group, has huge ambitions to become one of the largest electric vehicle infrastructure specialists in the UK.

And, with a number of global charge point manufacturers already part of the company’s repertoire, the firm is well on its way to establishing a firm foothold in the market.

The UK has seen a huge increase in electric vehicle registrations, which according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, shot up by 144% this year, with 23 new models set to enter showrooms in 2020.

Commenting on the business launch, adi VCS divisional director Kenneth Green said: “The set-up of this division is timely for a number of reasons.

“Firstly, we’ve already made huge inroads by signing up some of the biggest charge point manufacturers in Europe.

“Couple this with the fact that most car manufacturers have fully committed to hybrid or electric models in the next years, and you have the foundations for a solid growth plan.

“We’re also seeing more and more councils, businesses and land developers calling for electric vehicle charging points, as thousands of motorists choose to opt for plug-in vehicles up and down the country.”

In the last two years, VCS has formed a number of strategic alliances to solidify the foundations of the company, which enable the supply of the most up to date EV charging technologies.

This includes Franklin Energy, a leading EV charging point operator, which manages in excess of 300 sockets across the country.

Additionally, the nationwide business, which is headquartered in Liverpool, has ambitious plans to scale its network to over 3,000 charging points by the end of 2021, with adi VCS playing an integral role in installation and maintenance services.

Having such a strong alliance means adi VCS can work nationwide, with every car parking space in the country potentially a business opportunity.

“Our partnerships with these alliances, which are key infrastructure specialists in the UK, really set us on a course for the future, enabling us to do everything from supply, design installation, maintenance and operation,” said Kenneth.

“We are currently working with a number of blue chip companies, energy suppliers, big name retailers, fleet operators and everything in between, so I’m positive this is a business that is only set for huge expansion in the future.”

The new VCS division is based in the North West, with long-term aims to provide the UK infrastructure that will support government-backed initiatives around ultra-low emission cars

Additionally, another part of VCS’s development has seen it team up with a number of land and building regeneration developers.

Their sign-up is indicative of a growing trend in the UK, whereby councils across the country are aiming to transform cities into modern sustainable hubs for electric vehicles.

“Lots of big cities are now getting on board with electric vehicle infrastructure,” said Kenneth.

“Places like Manchester are already well ahead of the game, but more recently you have the likes of Nottingham, with its Broadmarsh redevelopment, aiming to accommodate electric vehicle charging points into the inner-city mix.

“Of course, there’s still a huge way to go in terms of infrastructure, but the fact that charging points are now being massively incorporated into city redevelopment plans, including rapid charging hubs from 50kW to 500kW, is hugely exciting.”

The adi VCS division is registered with the regulatory body NICEIC as approved contractors, backed by over 20 years of experience through Kenneth, its sector head and company brainchild.

Thanks to the huge interest in electric vehicle development and infrastructure, the company has now been able to stand on its own two feet as the new adi VCS division.

It will also have the full support of the wider adi Group, which already includes huge automotive clients to its name in the form of Jaguar Land Rover and BMW / MINI, further boosting its prospects.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by adi Group .