EV … Opportunity, Reality or Dream?

Happy Earth Day!

Many manufacturers have introduced EV charging stations to the market and most are trying to figure out the most effective sales channel (is it the electrical distributor, Best Buy, Home Depot, appliance stores, garage door installers / distributors, automotive dealers, direct to consumers, home automation dealers???)

Reports of distributors being successful have been few and far between.  We’ve heard of a few distributors in Texas and California with specific orders but the norm seems to be companies seeking publicity / being good “corporate citizens” and installing one or two at their facility or within their community.

All we do know is that car manufacturers are committed to electric vehicles.  As batteries improve and there become more publicly available charging stations (at homes but more importantly at commercial facilities – destinations), the EV market will grow.

One enterprising EV automotive manufacturer believes that electrical contractors will be on the forefront of installing charging stations (wonder where they’ll buy them) and has established a national electrical contractor relationship.  Click here to read the article.  The chargers being installed? GE’s WattStation.

We recognize that this is a small manufacturer, but if GM, Ford, Honda, Toyota, etal partnered with EV charger manufacturers or their dealer networks (possibly by state) partnered with contractors – or dare we say distributors – could the opportunity become reality (and yes, the charger and the vehicle pricing needs to get more competitive).

Just a thought.  The reality is alternative energies will drive tomorrow’s electrical consumption – be it electric vehicles, natural gas in vehicles or as an increased energy source, solar, maybe wind (in some places) and who knows what else (tidal?), distributors, long-term, need to stay abreast of an industry infrastructure that is changing.  The adage of “follow the money” applies … both upstream and downstream within an industry.