Why the Electric Car Grant is a significant opportunity for electrical wholesalers

In this article, Lee Sutton, co-founder and chief innovation officer at myenergi, explores the government’s recently announced £650m Electric Car Grant (ECG) and outlines the resulting opportunities for electrical wholesalers.

In July, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced a new grant for electric vehicles (EVs), offering up to £3,750 off the outright purchase price of select new models. With funding confirmed until the end of September 2029, the ECG will apply to a wide range of electric cars priced up to £37,000.

A direct response to the ZEV Mandate consultation, which brought together leading industry voices to identify the biggest hurdles impacting EV adoption, the grant aims to improve the affordability of plug-in vehicles by bringing outright purchase prices more closely in-line with petrol and diesel cars.

Alongside the ECG, further funding has also been announced to improve national EV charging infrastructure. Alongside a £63m package to install 100,000 more public chargers, this includes a £25m fund to improve the at-home car charging experience for those without a driveway. While details are yet to be confirmed, this is likely to see cables run under pavements in domestic areas to enable widespread street charging connectivity.

As well as being a positive initiative for consumers, the ECG also provides wholesalers with a significant opportunity. Indeed, with the UK’s EV transition already driving high demand for home charging solutions, the grant will further accelerate this momentum.

With this in mind, electrical wholesalers should act fast to prepare themselves for an uplift in orders for smart EV chargers, high-grade cables and mounting kits. While it may sound simple, identifying and stocking only the most in-demand, reliable and future-proof products is key to meeting market demand and making the most of the opportunity.

After all, with so much choice, the EV charging marketplace can be a minefield. As such, wholesalers must keep abreast of fast-moving legislation and thoroughly research the products available.

Getting to grips with regulatory requirements

First and foremost, wholesalers must keep up to date with the latest UK regulations, specifically those that set out functionality requirements for EV chargers.

According to the EV smart charge points regulation1, all EV chargers sold in the UK must now feature smart functionality as standard, which includes the ability to send and receive information, to be able to automatically alter the charge rate, and change the time at which electricity flows through the charger. This allows the charging of a vehicle when there is less demand on the grid or when more renewable energy is available.

All chargers must also offer interoperability between electricity suppliers, allowing them to retain smart functionality even if the owner switches electricity supplier. In addition, they must offer the ability to continue charging even if the charge point becomes disconnected from the network.

Furthermore, alongside safety and cybersecurity requirements, chargers must also include a system to measure or calculate the electricity imported/exported and the time the charging lasts, offering users full transparency and visibility of the information recorded. There are several other requirements laid out by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), and we’d recommend that wholesalers stay in the loop by keeping a close eye on these evolving regulations as they develop.

Understand the products

A deep understanding of the regulations is a good foundation, but wholesalers should also stay abreast of best commercially available products that are fully compliant with these laws. Stocking the best and most in-demand products is critical to meeting market demand and maximising revenue opportunities.

At myenergi, we’re known for designing some of the market’s most advanced smart chargers, including the latest addition to our range – zappi GLO.

Featuring eco-smart functionality, including out-of-the-box energy tariff integration and solar compatibility as standard, the screenless, buttonless, single-phase device offers complete charging control. Users have the option to simply plug-and-go, or explore toggle options to adjust settings, set timers, monitor performance and optimise device performance in real-time for greener, cheaper, smarter charging.

Unique in the marketplace, zappi GLO is part of myenergi’s home energy management system (HEMS) – an integrated network of eco-smart solutions that collectively offer total control over home energy use, alongside the flexibility to switch to the best smart tariff. Comprising the libbi home battery, eddi power diverter and zappi EV changer suite, HEMS provides wholesalers with an immediate upsell opportunity, enabling customers to access fully connected, UK-compliant and future-proof smart energy solutions.

Looking to the future

As the UK market for EVs and EV chargers continues to grow, wholesalers have a significant opportunity to take advantage of the upcoming surge in demand for EV chargers and connected smart devices. By staying ahead of the latest regulatory requirements and stocking UK-compliant, smart-enabled solutions, wholesalers can position themselves perfectly for the transition to electrification.