These days, it is very common for companies to work together to complete large projects. Many of the biggest advances in technology in our time have been as a result of partnerships between multiple large corporations. The energy sector is no stranger to this and many suppliers have launched joint ventures with electronic and engineering firms to complete infrastructure projects. That said, the latest partnership between Lotus and Centrica may be a sign of what the future brings for electric travel.
Many of us will know Lotus as the niche carmaker based in Norwich who have produced some striking sports cars like the esprit and Elise. The car manufacturer is also known for its involvement in motorsport having competed in Formula One for seven years and a variety of other racing categories. The company also have an engineering arm which provides research and development for other brands such as Toyota, Vauxhall and Chevrolet. That said, they have had their fair share of financial troubles and came close to bankruptcy in the early 80s. In recent years, they have turned their attention to electric vehicles and the new Evija is set to launch at the end of 2020.
Lotus have engaged Centrica, better known as British Gas, to help create a dedicated EV strategy moving forward, improve the charging infrastructure in the UK to the benefit of their future customers and create a new ‘digital mobility’ platform. Lotus have demonstrated a real commitment to electrification in a way that few sports car manufactures have and they are aiming to create a greater connection between their vehicles and the grid. In the company press release announcing this deal they set out an aim to make “the car an extension of the home, capable of storing electricity, minimising emissions and generating new income by providing services to the energy market.”
This new venture also signals a change in Centrica’s strategy as the energy giant contends with the surge in ‘challenger’ energy suppliers like Ovo and Bulb. Their former CEO, Iain Conn, revealed their aim to shift “the centre of gravity of our relationships away from commoditised energy supply, and towards a suite of differentiated propositions, which many will value.”
There is a growing trend in the electric vehicle market for manufacturers to join forces with energy suppliers in a bid to overcome what is considered to be the final hurdle in battery energy: storage. With many consumer doubts over electric vehicles centring on range and battery worries, and energy companies scrambling to find a way of storing renewable energy, they seem to have united towards a common goal. Similarly, in the past week, tesla have applied for a UK power generation license in a bid to create ‘virtual power plants’ from ‘flexible energy assets’. In theory, their aim is to create mobile power storage units which may eventually include vehicles.
The future remains bright for this market and we cannot contain our excitement. As our company progresses we are always looking for new opportunities to work with other brands and be involved with cutting edge projects. If you have any suggestions or questions, or you would like to chat to someone who is as enthusiastic about the future of energy as you are, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Call us on 0141 280 8890 or drop us an email at info@britetechnicalservices.co.uk.
We also have a variety of platforms available with extensive information about electric vehicles (brite-ev.com), EV chargepoints (evchargepoints.com) and EV accessories (briteaccessories.com).