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20 Spring 2023 NEWS ERARELEASES ‘IMPACTOFDIGITALISATION ONRENTAL’ REPORT The European Rental Association (ERA) has released the ‘The impact of digitalisation in the equipment rental industry’ report, which aims to raise awareness among all rental companies in Europe, including SMEs and national associations, about the challenges of digitalisation and provide elements of best practice on the journey to a successful digital transformation. The report answers critical questions related to digitalisation in the rental industry, provides a window into how companies are leading the transformation, highlights the opportunities and threats that digitalisation poses, and provides practical advice and guidance for businesses to meet the challenge of digitalisation. Secretary General of ERA, Michel Petitjean, said: “Digitalisation is transforming the commercial landscape for rental companies, with implications for their sales, marketing, operations, asset management, business models and more. With this report, we hope to give the rental industry a resource of real value for understanding and navigating this transformation.” The project was led by the ERA Future Group, which brings together young managers from rental companies to provide insight and vision on strategic issues. It was carried out by epi Consulting, an award-winning international sustainability, strategy and innovation consultancy based in the UK. A full copy of the report is available at www.digitalisation. erarental.org . The Electric Vehicle Smart Charging Action Plan, published by the UK Government and Ofgem in January, sets out steps to seize the potential of smart EV charging and make it the main method of long-duration charging by 2025. For high-mileage motorists, smarter charging could save up to £1,000 a year. Smart EV charging harnesses the potential of energy use data and the latest energy innovations, allowing motorists to charge electric vehicles when electricity is cheaper or cleaner, convert electricity stored in their electric vehicle, or even sell it back to the grid for profit. To back this up further, the Government also announced £16m funding from the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) for technologies that harness the potential of smart charging, including a smart street lamppost which will enable motorists to access smart charging on the move, and projects that will enable domestic appliances, from heat pumps to EV charge points and batteries, to integrate into a smarter energy system. Energy and Climate Minister, Graham Stuart, said: “We want to make smart EV charging an easier choice for drivers of electric vehicles, whether that is charging on the driveway, at the workplace, or parked on the street. To do that, we need to build new network infrastructure at pace, using the latest available technologies.” All EV charge points across the UK will now be smart. Through the plan, the Government has vowed to improve publicly-available information and evidence on smart charging and ensure private charge points are secure and compatible with the latest energy innovations. The Government and Ofgem are seeking to remove the barriers that currently prevent full development of a competitive smart EV charging market, while making sure the energy system is ready to respond to the upturn in energy demand that electric vehicles will bring. NEWSMART EVCHARGING SYSTEM PROMISES SAVINGS