The number of connected electric vehicle charging points, according to predictions in Berg Insight report, will grow by 40 per cent annually until 2026 in Europe and North America, reaching an estimated 18 million units. Connected charging points can be monitored closely and controlled so that they only use surplus energy or charge when energy prices are low, potentially reducing strain on local grids and helping site owners keep their charging output within the capacity of their contracts and grid connection. Last Mile Solutions, Virta, Ampeco, Greenflux, Driivz, Easee, Pod Point, Zaptec, ChargePoint, Enel X, Flo, SemaConnect, EV Connect, Blink Charging, Shell Recharge Solutions, Tesla, Vattenfall, Innogy, Allego and EVBox (Engie) have all become significant actors in the region and have notable numbers of connected charging points on their platforms. Most of the connected charging points are either in public or semi-public applications, but the share of connected home charging points is expected to increase.

The increase in connected electric vehicle charging points is expected to bring about a number of benefits for both EV drivers and site owners. For EV drivers, connectivity allows them to locate charging points, monitor availability, book chargers and manage payments using smartphone apps. For site owners, connected charging points can be monitored and controlled so that they are only using surplus energy or charging when energy prices are low, reducing strain on local grids and helping them stay within the capacity of their contracts and grid connection. As the number of EV charging points continues to grow in Europe and North America, more companies are offering back-office software solutions to facilitate the charging process. With more people embracing the use of EVs, the need for connected and smart charging solutions is likely to increase in the coming years.