Elektromotive, the electric vehicle (EV) charging point company, has entered into a joint venture with Charge Your Car (North) to create a network of 10,000 pay-as-you-go charging points across the UK.

The new company – Charge Your Car – will expand the existing Charge your Car (North) network located predominantly across North east England, and incorporate other regional networks and stand-alone units under the Charge Your Car brand.

To accelerate its expansion, the national network will be ‘open source’, meaning that charge points produced by any manufacturer can be included on the network, provided they use the industry-standard open charge point protocol (OCPP).

Currently, Charge your Car (North) is the operator of the Charge Your Car electric vehicle recharging network with 400 publicly accessible charge points located predominantly in the North East of England.

While operating the new joint venture, Elektromotive will continue in its role as a charge point manufacturer and infrastructure solutions provider for private and public sector organisations worldwide.

Dealer reaction on EVs

Dealers are still largely sceptical of the profit opportunity offered by electric vehicles. Dealers have told AM that while “the concept is great, the technology is not ready to be adopted by the market”. Dealers told AM prices were still too high for the product, the range needed to reach 200 miles and the used car and servicing implications needed to be solved before EV sales could take off.

One dealer said: "Get the product right and the infrastructure will follow."

Read AM’s Electric Vehicle Round Table coverage in the July issue of AM.

If you are a franchised dealer and you would like to add your views on EVs (anonymously if preferred) please email am@bauermedia.co.uk