A Q&A with Blink Charging CEO, Brendan Jones
With the Biden administration’s aggressive goal of having 50% all new vehicle sales be electric by 2030, and a number of public and private initiatives as well as consumer demand, the EV market is booming. How can infrastructure possibly keep up? In this Q&A interview, Brendan Jones of Blink Charging answers the tough questions.
With more than a third of US motorists considering an EV, is it even possible for infrastructure to keep up with demand?
JONES: In a word, yes, but we have to be realistic about the approach. The current estimate is that 30 million more chargers are needed by 2030. While this may seem daunting, it’s actually very achievable. It’s key to remember that according to the DOT, personal vehicles are dormant 95% of the time. We need to take advantage of that time, which leads us to the difference between L2 and DC fast chargers. According to Bloomberg, PCWH, and McKinsey, 90% of the kW dispensed with come from L2 chargers. Therefore, a realistic split for chargers is most likely a 90/10 split in favor of L2 chargers. DC fast chargers are great but we don’t need nearly as many of them. So, we simply need to plan accordingly. The quickness and significantly lower cost of installing an L2 charger is what makes the infrastructure goals attainable. If we can stick to that blueprint and move forward with a balanced, collaborative approach that is supported by the utilities, government, private manufacturing and technology companies like Blink, and the consumers themselves, meeting infrastructure demands is certainly attainable.
What are the biggest hurdles to get electrified?
JONES: The biggest challenge is to make sure we have a good plan moving forward that allows for genuine and balanced collaboration. That is the key to creating a sustainable ecosystem. The various stakeholders and players need to collaborate to make sure the power is there. We have enough energy production, we need more substations, battery backed systems, and better energy management. We’re not collectively lacking the ability to advance electrification of vehicles. We have the tool set and the solutions, it’s a matter of everyone coming together at the table and getting it done.
What do you tell people who say they won’t go EV because of range anxiety?
JONES: We like to say that at Blink, we are not in the business of range anxiety – we are in the business of range confidence. Every charging station that we (or anyone in our industry) put in, proactively adds to the building of that confidence. We install visible stations where people conduct their daily lives – the doctor’s office, the movies, grandma’s house. There are chargers everywhere and we are making sure there are going to be a whole lot more. Range confidence – one charger at a time.
Is EV charging more consumer friendly today? For example, are there easier ways to find chargers?
JONES: EV charging gets more and more consumer friendly. Thanks to the multiplicity of apps (both generic and customized, including Blink’s, which we think is pretty great), supply chain issues being largely behind us, and with the majority of chargers on the market coming out with plug and charge capability (where the customer plugs in and doesn’t have to worry about swiping credentials, etc.), the possibilities and options continue to broaden and the process gets more and more convenient.
How does California differ from the rest of the country in terms of the EV big picture?
JONES: When it comes to the EV experience, and EV adoption in general, California leads the nation. The state is also the EV innovation north star in that as California innovates, so goes the other 49 states. We all continue to learn from California in that the whole state is proactive and engaged towards EVs. More than 18% of new car sales in California are EVs (compared to less that 6% for the rest of the US). So, it’s important to track and watch California as it provides a glimpse into the EV usage future for the rest of the country.
Brendan Jones is president and CEO at Blink Charging, a vertically integrated manufacturer, owner, operator and provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and services. Learn more at blinkcharging.com.
