These changes will inevitably flow down to individual municipalities and citizens themselves. Mobility and parking businesses will need to adjust as cities introduce more alternative electrification to their infrastructure. It may no longer become about whether operators offer EV charging, but rather to what degree.
Forward-thinking Parkwell CEO Joel Christensen provides an example of the opportunities these changes can present. “[For operators], this period is about actually looking at your infrastructure. You can ask questions like: ‘Do we need to upgrade our transformers to build advanced infrastructure that offers level three fast-charging?’” he explains. “Because, if so, that can be a differentiator that can draw in people to your garage. While they charge their car for an hour, you’ve now converted somebody to a coffee customer, or whatever else is in your building.”
Mobility operators aren’t the only group that’s exploring the possibilities of new infrastructure and alternative energy. In a previous post, we spoke with Professor Stephen Boyles of The University of Texas at Austin about what conversations cities are having regarding urban planning. He shared that municipalities aren’t afraid to get creative.
In one example of approaching EV vehicles and infrastructure, EV vehicles would actually give back some power to the energy grid when not in use, and the owners would be paid for their contribution. Adventurous proposals like these will be increasing as the federal government takes the lead.