Zaptec, a Norwegian electric vehicle (EV) charging manufacturer, is considered “one of the best” in terms of the features it offers in its products.
The truth is that the company is continually making improvements to its equipment, as its goal is to “change the world with cutting-edge technology.”
What aspects are EV users requesting the most?
Fredrik Hegland, Product Manager System Charging at Zaptec, explains to Mobility Portal Europe that, in emerging markets, early adopters tend to determine which is the best charger based on technical specifications.
In contrast, in more mature markets like Scandinavia, design is given more weight than functionality.
“With Zaptec, you get the best of both worlds: good design and excellent functionality,” Hegland assures.
It is worth mentioning that the Zaptec Go won the Red Dot Design Award for its minimalist design and intelligent operation, which simplifies the charging experience.
The size of the charger is another important factor, as users do not want equipment that takes up significant space outside their homes.
Additionally, in terms of technology, EV drivers are requesting safety.
“They expect the device to be tested and approved by the relevant authorities and to be safe for use. It’s something they take for granted,” the expert indicates.
He continues: “At Zaptec, we have a very safe charger regarding all the required measures, but it also features additional safety within the unit, so the infrastructure for the chargers can be made more streamlined and cost-efficient, which is an advantage over other manufacturers.”
It’s important to highlight that users also expect to control and adjust the charger’s settings through an app.
“They want different ways to manage the charging, whether it’s immediately upon connecting the vehicle or delaying the charge according to their preference,” he comments.
Customers also expect to connect the charging point to a service provider, such as their network operator or, in the case of fleets, to the system the company has chosen for its vehicles.
This way, they can receive reimbursement for using a company or fleet vehicle.
“They also expect the charger to be connected in some way to monitor its electricity consumption and reduce their bills,” explains the Zaptec representative.
V2G as Part of the Solution
Zaptec’s goal is to provide chargers that help Europe transition to a new approach to mobility.
“We can even make cars part of the solution, rather than the problem,” comments Hegland.
“This aligns with the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) concept, where they can be used as a supplement to the power grid,” he adds.
Currently, the company is conducting a V2G pilot in collaboration with Polestar, the Swedish high-performance electric car brand.
The aim is to develop innovative technology to offer features such as smart charging, bidirectional charging, and vehicle-to-grid capabilities to Polestar customers in the future.
It’s worth mentioning that Zaptec is also working on the plug&charge system, so users won’t need to authenticate with the charger.
“You simply plug it in, the charger will recognise the car and start charging. This makes the process easier,” assures Hegland.
Zaptec Enhances Its Chargers
At the moment, the company is making improvements to the Zaptec Pro Charger, which will allow them to install it in public spaces in Germany.
“This is important for us because Germany is a significant market, and we need to comply with the regulations there,” explains the company representative.
Zaptec offers the installation of public chargers in all markets where it is available, namely Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
“We have products for public charging in all the markets that we are present in, except in Germany, where we are working to achieve compliance before offering the service,” Hegland acknowledges.
Additionally, they will soon launch a new version of the Zaptec Go charger, the Zaptec Go 2.
“We are also working on what will redefine EV charging, which will be the next big innovation for Zaptec, but that is something long-term,” he reveals.
Zaptec Aims to Expand into Other Markets
“We have plans to expand, and we have just entered Italy and Spain,” Hegland comments.
In this way, the company will focus on the five major economies of Europe: the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.
“Those will be our key markets in the future because we expect to see high growth in electric vehicle sales in these countries,” the Zaptec representative comments.
He clarifies: “Our sales are related to EV sales because if car sales are low, then charger sales will be low as well.”
