To understand how the e-mobility sector is progressing in the United Kingdom (UK), Mobility Portal Europe speaks with Michael Gibson, CEO of charge point management platform Fuuse.
Gibson explains that, “the main challenge is the reliability of charging points.”
“This remains an issue for users, in part, due to the presence of a large number of outdated chargers,” he adds.
In this context, it is necessary to provide services that improve reliability, as the more people trust the infrastructure, the more likely they are to adopt or recommend electric vehicles (EVs).
“It is important to offer quality services, such as our 24/7 driver support service and network operations centre that ensures chargers function properly,” says the CEO.
It is worth mentioning that Fuuse is a charge point management platform focused on reliability.
Through its platform, it provides information on how the infrastructure works and allows issues to be reported and resolved both automatically and manually.
Additionally, it can manage aspects like payments, enable tariffs, and run promotions.
“We have a brilliant support team so that businesses can rely on us and their charging points, making the charging process as easy as possible,” he states.
The company’s goal is to be a leader in the UK and in every market they enter.
“That means not only being experts in the management and operation of chargers as a software platform but also building the services around them that offer exceptional reliability,” says Gibson.
Another way to address reliability is through new regulations that focus on this issue.
An example is the UK government’s new legislation called the Public Charge Point Regulations, which aims to guarantee the uptime of equipment and ensure that they are fully open and accessible to the public.
“We are working with our public charging infrastructure providers and charge point operators (CPOs) to ensure they comply with these regulations,” the CEO comments.
Finally, another aspect Gibson highlights to ensure equipment reliability is moving towards OCPP 2.0, which offers more diagnostic tools and enhanced security capabilities.
“This will be a decisive factor for progress, and Fuuse already has comprehensive solutions for it,” he assures.
Who are Fuuse’s main clients?
Fuuse works with over 500 companies to manage commercial charging infrastructure from CPOs to fleets.
In addition, it works with nearly 50 charge point manufacturers across alternating (AC) and direct current (DC).
“As long as the equipment is compatible with OCPP 1.6 or OCPP 2.0.1, any manufacturer that wants to open their devices to Fuuse can integrate with us,” explains Gibson.
He continues, “All of this is driven by the customer. If they wish to implement features like plug and charge or autocharge, we can facilitate that.”
Additionally, the company has partnerships with over 150 different installers.
“What we do is empower them so they can sell more, better understand the new chargers and services they can offer to their clients, and we provide them with the ones they cannot offer on their own,” he comments.
Not only that, but Fuuse also works with fleets.
On one hand, there are fleets that return to charge the vehicle at home.
“We are agnostic and seek to integrate with any provider that offers a home reimbursement solution, so they can be compensated for the charging they do,” explains the CEO.
Then, there are fleets that return to the depot, where vehicles are charged on-site at the workplace overnight.
“In these cases, there are several challenges, with the main one being optimising the charging process to ensure that vehicles are fully charged and ready for the next day,” indicates Gibson.
“The second priority is the variability of energy costs during the night,” he adds.
In this context, Fuuse aims to ensure that most of the charging takes place when energy costs are lowest, allowing for significant cost savings.
Fuuse undertakes a major project with Be.EV
One of the most significant success stories Fuuse has worked on is with Be.EV, one of the largest CPOs in the United Kingdom.
“We began working with them in April of this year. We migrated nearly 500 charge points to our platform in a short period of time,” explains Gibson.
He continues, “What we did was facilitate that transition smoothly and we now work with them to continually optimise and improve their charging infrastructure.”
Part of their work involved visiting their sites to understand how the chargers operated, analysing the details, and developing a new app that represented a significant improvement over the previous one.
“We have worked on various aspects of their business to increase the value of their offering because Be.EV is a strong brand, and customer trust is fundamental to what they do,” acknowledges the CEO of Fuuse.
Current and future projects of Fuuse
The company is working with a client to implement its first plug&charge solution, also known as ISO 15118.
Additionally, it has secured several grants for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.
“We are working on four Innovate UK grants and expect to have a fully commercial V2G solution next year,” assures the CEO.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that while the company is headquartered in the UK, it is also available in Ireland and is about to enter two new European markets where it already has partners and clients.
