The electric vehicle (EV) industry is bigger than ever, with no signs of stopping. To date, the latest SMMT data reveals there are now over 2.15 million plug-in vehicles on the UK’s roads, with more than 1.33 million being battery electric vehicles (BEVs). As a result, charging infrastructure and charge point equipment is in high demand to accommodate the increasing amount of EVs on the roads.
However, one of the key challenges associated with EV charging is managing their downtime, caused by EV charge points that are not functioning properly. Not only does downtime cause frustration with EV drivers but it can also lead to a loss of revenue for operators. In this blog, we’ll explore how to reduce downtime in EV charge points.
- What does downtime in EV charge points mean?
- What causes downtime in EV Charge Points?
- Why is it important to reduce downtime in EV charge points?
- What are the impacts of downtime in EV charge points?
- How to reduce downtime in EV charge points?
- How effective is remote EV charge point monitoring?
- What are the benefits of EV charge point monitoring?
- How much does EV charge point monitoring cost?
- EV charge point monitoring with RMS
What does downtime in EV charge points mean?
When talking about downtime in EV charge points, it’s referring to the amount of time an EV charge point is out-of-use or not working properly. As with all things, especially those that use complicated software or are used by a significant amount of people, issues can occur from time to time. However, many EV drivers, businesses and operators are seeing large periods of downtime when it comes to EV chargers, which are causing serious impacts on their businesses and users. In essence, this means that these issues are not being fixed or identified fast enough when they do occur.
What causes downtime in EV Charge Points?
There are many things which can cause an EV charge point not to function properly or be out-of-order and cause downtime. The current pressure on the UK’s charging network is immense, with a recent industry survey revealing that almost half of EV drivers occasionally encounter out-of-service charge points, highlighting that the challenge is not only the volume of chargers but also their consistent reliability. This level of driver frustration directly impacts consumer confidence in the wider shift to electric mobility. The majority of EV charge point downtime is caused by:
Hardware Issues
Hardware issues refer to problems with the physical parts of an EV charge point. These can be caused by wear and tear over time, or by improper use. Damage to the main body of the charge point, the charging cable, or the socket can all result in a charge point being out of order and therefore extended downtime.
Software Issues
Software issues refer to the technological and operational workings of the charge point. All EV charge points will use some sort of software or computer program to operate properly and carry out all the processes needed to make them work efficiently. These include connecting to a user’s bank when taking payment, accessing a wireless connection and much more. Issues with the software can cause a charge point to not work effectively and therefore lead to downtime. Beyond simple technical faults, modern EV charge points operate as complex, interconnected systems, often involving multiple parties: the Charge Point Operator (CPO), the energy grid, and the back-end management software. Issues often stem from interoperability challenges between the hardware and the network’s operating system, or from connectivity problems on-site. For many operators, this complexity is a major headache, with a significant number of CPO decision-makers expressing a lack of confidence in their current hardware mix to cope with rising charging demands, according to a recent Monta report on UK Charge Point Operators. For commercial sites that rely on this equipment, such as retail showrooms, these software issues mean immediate reputational risk and lost revenue. A proactive remote monitoring solution that can manage these non-physical, technical faults is essential for maintaining high uptime. Addressing these intricate system communications falls under the umbrella of non-security monitoring, proving that EV charge points are part of a larger asset management strategy.
Why is it important to reduce downtime in EV charge points?
The UK government have stated the need for a reliable charging network to successfully achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emission by 2050. A reliable charging infrastructure is therefore critical for managing the demand for EVs, which means reducing their downtime significantly. The Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 now legally mandate a minimum 99% reliability rate for rapid charge points, a clear signal that the government views consistent uptime as necessary for a successful charging network. This rigorous target means charge points need to be maintained and faults repaired quickly when they do occur.
If downtime isn’t reduced, EV drivers will be left unable to charge their vehicles and many businesses will not be able to operate efficiently. It is therefore important to reduce downtime in EV charge points to ensure EV drivers have access to reliable charging infrastructure and have a great charging experience. Without the right strategies in place to reduce downtime, major implications can ensue.
What are the impacts of downtime in EV charge points?
Reduced Productivity
If EV drivers are not able to easily access working charge points, productivity levels will drop significantly. Businesses won’t be able to deliver goods and services on time and many EV drivers may be left stranded. There are also likely to be long wait times at the limited number of working charge points when others are out-of-use.
Businesses Unable to Operate
With encouragement to reduce their carbon emissions and switch to EVs from the government, many businesses now (and will) rely heavily on the EV charging infrastructure. When charge points have long periods of downtime, whether that be on the public network or workplace charging on-site, many businesses may struggle to operate effectively without access to a working charge point, such as not being able to deliver their services or make deliveries. This will therefore lead to financial loss for many businesses.
Employees Unable to Travel
Many employees that drive EVs will find it difficult to travel to their workplace or carry out their job role if they are unable to access working charge points. Many EV-driving employees will use their workplace’s EV charge points to charge their vehicle during the 9-5, however, if these charge points are down, they may become stranded or at the very least, very disgruntled!
Unhappy Customers
If a business provides EV charging for their customers or is an operator of public charging, then customers will soon be very frustrated and unhappy when a charge point is continuously out-of-service, due to a long period of downtime. This will of course have a knock-on effect on a brand’s image that is hard to shake.
Loss of Revenue Stream
Many businesses monetise their EV charge points, providing them with a recurring revenue stream. However, for as long as the charge points are out-of-service, this revenue stream will be non-existent.
Increased Risk Profile and Maintenance Costs
Beyond immediate revenue loss, poor reliability can severely affect a site’s overall operational and insurance profile. Systems that frequently fail often necessitate more reactive, expensive engineer call-outs, rather than cost-effective remote fixes. Furthermore, a consistently unreliable infrastructure can increase the risk profile of the business, potentially affecting long-term business continuity plans and even impacting insurance premiums. For facility managers focused on optimising operations, integrating EV charge point oversight into a comprehensive strategy for improving efficiency in facility management is key. This proactive approach helps operators avoid the spiralling costs associated with reactive maintenance.
Frustration
Long periods of downtime with EV charge points are frustrating, for the operator and business as well as the EV-driving users. Out-of-service charge points are one of the biggest reasons why people are put off by electric vehicles and it’s frustrating having a charge point that isn’t being properly maintained or fixed quickly.
How to reduce downtime in EV charge points?
There are various things you can do to reduce the risk of charge points breaking and experiencing significant downtime. These include:
Regular Maintenance & Servicing
Carrying out regular maintenance and servicing on EV charge points is one of the most important ways to reduce downtime. This is because these regular checks will prevent issues and faults from happening in the first place. Having a regular maintenance schedule in place that includes, testing, inspections, cleaning and any repairs ensures each charge point is working properly and efficiently and helps prevent downtime.
Redundant Systems
Having redundant systems in place can also help reduce downtime in EV charge points. A redundant system is essentially a backup system, which kicks in and takes over in the event of a failure. For instance, if a charge point’s power supply fails, a redundant power supply will start to ensure that the charge point remains operational.
User Feedback
User feedback can also be a great way to reduce downtime on EV charge points. Having a clearly placed telephone number on a charge point that can be used to report issues can be effective in quickly knowing if a charge point isn’t working. A business or operator can therefore address the issue promptly and reduce any downtime. However, it does rely on a user to report the issue in the first place. While useful, this manual method requires a seamless reporting mechanism, such as a 24/7 manned call handling service.
When an issue is reported, operators must also have established protocols, including remote site access management to allow engineers or maintenance staff onto the property quickly and securely. Implementing a service like remote site access ensures a swift response and minimises the time a charge point remains offline while waiting for human intervention.
Remote EV Charge Point Monitoring
Remote monitoring of EV charge points is an effective way to reduce downtime in EV charge points. By using remote monitoring software, businesses and operators can easily track the performance of their charge points in real-time, therefore instantly highlighting any potential issues before they become bigger problems. Once notified, the necessary action can be taken to fix the problem, resulting in very little downtime of the charge point. Remote monitoring systems are increasingly seen as integral to the evolution of smart commercial properties.
This type of monitoring allows for the rapid deployment of a ‘digital technician,’ a system that performs continuous diagnostics. When combined with modern smart technologies, such as those discussed in our guide to monitoring in the age of smart buildings, it ensures that your EV infrastructure is not an isolated problem area but a high-performing asset.
How effective is remote EV charge point monitoring?
Remote EV charge point monitoring can be a really effective tool in reducing downtime in EV charge points. This is because it provides a constant, 24/7 overview of a site’s entire EV charging system and all charge points, allowing for instant notification of any issues. The majority of charge point downtime is due to unidentified issues. With EV charge point monitoring in place, issues can be identified and resolved quickly and ensure charge points remain in good working order.
What are the benefits of EV charge point monitoring?
There are multiple benefits of implementing EV charge point monitoring, that go beyond reducing downtime.
Reduced Downtime
EV charge point monitoring of course helps to reduce downtime significantly, due to notifying the nominated keyholder and monitoring operatives about any issues. Corrective action can then be taken to fix the issue, leading to reduced downtime and eliminating any unknown issues.
Live Status & Availability
With EV charge point monitoring in place, a business or operator can see the real-time status of each charge point, giving them better control of and insight into their charge point system. It’s possible to see an overview of which charge points are out-of-service, which are in use and which are available.
Remote Fixing
Some remote EV charge point monitoring software may allow for remote fixing of issues, when possible. Simple efforts such as restarting the charge point can often be done remotely which means an engineer doesn’t need to be called out to the site. This is often powered by the same advanced technology that is reducing false alarms in ARCs, allowing for sophisticated diagnostics and remote rebooting. This also allows for reduced downtime.
Track Performance
Remote monitoring of EV charge points can provide businesses and operators with useful insight into the performance of their charge points, such as charging rate, usage and number of sessions, all of which help ensure they are working efficiently.
Identify Patterns
Tracking usage patterns with the help of the remote monitoring of charge points can provide businesses and operators with valuable insight when it comes to identifying high-demand times and adjusting capacity accordingly.
How much does EV charge point monitoring cost?
EV charge point monitoring is a worthwhile investment in reducing downtime in EV charge points, as well as providing key insights into usage and performance. Every charge point system is unique and will be tailored to a site. Therefore costs will vary depending on the number of charge points and the complexity of the system.
We recommend you speak to the RMS team, who will ask you a few questions and then give you a bespoke, free and no-obligation quotation.
EV charge point monitoring with RMS
RMS provides remote EV charge point monitoring as part of our service offering. Choosing a monitoring partner that adheres to the highest operational standards, such as achieving NSI Gold approval, is vital for ensuring reliable, continuous coverage. This level of quality assurance is central to why businesses choose RMS for their asset and security monitoring needs. With RMS, you benefit from a dedicated team of experienced monitoring operatives who ensure proactive resolution, moving beyond simple fault reporting to true operational management.
For more information, get in touch with us at 0330 002 1149 or contact us online here.
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