EO Charging is one of the UK’s leading electric vehicle (EV) charger manufacturers. Founded in 2015, the company designs chargers for homes, fleets and destinations – offering a holistic solution to all types of EV drivers. In just three years, EO has grown from a small operation in an old barn to a global EV charging brand, now selling in 25 countries around the world.
In an interview with Insights Success, Charlie Jardine, Founder and CEO of the company, shares his experience, company’s products and motto of the organization along with the future goals in revolutionizing the EV industry.
Below are the highlights of the interview conducted between Charlie and Insights Success:
Give a brief overview of the company, its uniqueness and its vision.
Charlie: EO Charging is one of the UK’s leading electric vehicle charging manufacturers. We design chargers for homes, fleets and destinations. We see EV chargers as the first piece of the puzzle in helping consumers gain energy independence – both in terms of generation and storage.
What are the cutting-edge products/services offered by EO Charging?
Charlie: EO has a number of industry leading products including the eoMini, the eoBasic and the eoGenius and the eoHub.
The eoMini is currently the smallest fast charger on the market and is fully customizable. It’s the perfect option for electric vehicle drivers looking for a discreet and easy-to-use charger.
Our eoBasic is a simple plug and play EV charger available in 7-22kw options – perfect for the everyday EV driver. Where we’re leading the industry is our eoGenius charger – the most cost-effective, scalable smart charging solution that allows fleet managers to grow their charging infrastructure with ease. So how does it work? Well, by connecting our eoGenius chargers to the eoHub, a smart unit that connects up to 32 chargers, fleet managers and EV drivers get access to the eoCloud, eoApp and all of our smart functionality.
By not having the smart hardware in each charger, fleet managers or business owners don’t face large upfront costs and are able to easily scale their charging infrastructure as more and more electric vehicles are purchased and enter their fleet.
Describe the experiences, achievements or lessons learnt that have shaped the journey of the company.
Charlie: As with any startup, EO’s growth to date hasn’t come without complications. The first EO charger was designed and manufactured on Charlie’s Grandfather’s farm – in fact, in an old pig shed! Fast forward three years and the company now has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Stowmarket, Suffolk employing over 15 people. One of the biggest hurdles for EO has been keeping up with demand – the company to date has manufactured around 4000 chargers and currently sells in more than 25 countries around the world!
What are the challenges faced by electric vehicles industry and how is EO Charging serving to tackle them?
Charlie: One of the biggest problems faced by the electric vehicle industry is charging infrastructure. Currently in the UK there aren’t enough chargers to support the increasing number of EVs on the road.
EO is working directly with both consumers and businesses to ensure they’re installing the most appropriate, future-proof charging solution.
What, according to you, is the future of Electric Vehicles and what role does EO Charging play in that?
Charlie: We’re currently witnessing the second automotive revolution – first the combustion engine took over from the horse & cart, now electric takes over from petrol & diesel.
We will soon be moving out of the ‘early adopter’ stage of vehicle electrification and soon into the ‘early majority’ where everyday consumers will embrace EVs with open arms. EO plays a vital role in enabling this revolution (or rEVolution, if you will) and the company is currently working on a number of innovation projects to prove the use case for technologies like Vehicle-to-Grid charging. EO is currently working alongside Innovate UK and a consortium of UK businesses and organizations (including EDF energy, Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford University) to develop a Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) charger. Once the technology is fully developed, EVs will be able to assist the grid at times of sudden spikes in demand or supply.
About the Leader:
EO was founded by 26-yearold Charlie Jardine. Having worked at a rival UK manufacturer for a number of years, Charlie made the decision to setup the business with the mission of building simple yet reliable EV chargers.
Whilst Charlie is the youngest leader within the industry, his focus to build a brand and product that EV drivers love has propelled him to the forefront of the global EV revolution. He is a driving force behind the company’s sales, partnerships and is constantly striving to ensure EO stays at the forefront of innovation in the sector.
Source: The 10 Fastest Growing EVs Solution Providers, 2018
