Believ started in 2021 with the aim of supporting local authorities in providing EV charging to residents without access to at-home charging. They are on a mission to create the UK’s most reliable electric vehicle charging network!
To help us understand more about their future plans, we decided to sit down with Guy Bartlett, CEO of Believ, to get the inside scoop.
(*You can check where your nearest Believ charger is by searching the map or using the app filters)
Believ launched as an electric vehicle (EV) charge point operator in 2021, dedicating its services to supporting local authorities in providing EV charging to residents without access to at-home charging. We have now launched our fully funded proposition to businesses and landowners too.
We are funded by Liberty Global Ventures and Zouk Capital, the manager of the HM Treasury-backed Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (CIIF) and our delivery partner, Virgin Media O2 helps facilitate installation. This backing and support means we can rollout EV charging infrastructure at the pace and scale required to help achieve the Government’s ambition to install 300,000 publicly accessible EV charge points by 2030.
We want to make EVs accessible for all parts of society. We’re very proud of the work our team does to ensure we install the right charge point, with the right charging speed and at the right location to serve present and future demand. We collaborate with local authorities, businesses and landowners to create a comprehensive, bespoke strategy through a data-driven approach – so that the installation, operation and maintenance of our network are focused on serving the community as well as our clients at the highest standard.
EV drivers need to know charge points are going to be working when they turn up to use them. Our ‘always-on’ model relies on ensuring charge points are always operational, as that is how revenue is generated. This approach inherently mitigates downtime, which is why we are proud to have an uptime record of circa 99%.
We have recently conducted major pieces of research to uncover what barriers local authorities and businesses face when rolling out EV charging infrastructure. One of the key findings is that more support is needed to improve access to funding and to demystify a complex regulatory landscape.
Off the back of this research, we have launched a series of pledge cards that call on councillors, MPs, and drivers to commit to actions that will accelerate the pace of EV infrastructure rollouts. For more info on what exactly we’re asking in these pledges click here.
And we’re doing everything we can to make sure that local authorities, businesses and landowners know that our fully funded, end-to-end charge point installation proposition means they can outsource much of the hassle associated with rollouts – all at zero cost to them or the taxpayer.
Every local authority is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy. However, there are common themes that local authorities must consider when developing their local EV charging infrastructure strategy.
Because we value collaboration, we provide our local authority partners with a consistent strategic framework to navigate an unfamiliar process. Working with our partners and the communities we serve, we help local authorities develop exactly the right strategy for them including a blended approach to charge point speeds, so that all requirements can be catered for.
It’s this partnership focus that we firmly believe will help local authorities get more charge points in the ground, and support the Government’s ambition to install 300,000 charge points by 2030.
Absolutely, this was the plan from the beginning – being sustainable is more than a strap line, it is a commitment right across our business and our activities. We are here because we believe in a sustainable future, and we believe in cleaner air for all – this has always been our mission.
Decarbonising transport is a huge part of achieving net zero by 2050. This is what drives our commitment to accelerate the rollout of EV charging infrastructure so that we can substantially decrease emissions associated with business travel, employee commutes, and the distribution of goods and services.
In addition, we are really proud that in 2022 and 2023 we were certified carbon neutral through a number of initiatives, including tree planting through the Woodland Fund project.
We have a hardware agnostic approach to charge point technology. This means we offer all speeds of charge points and select the type of hardware according to each site’s specific requirements. Charging hubs along transport routes, for example, will often utilise ultra rapid charging. But this is not always required or desired. For instance, on residential streets where the drivers charge while at home, and often at night, fast charging is more appropriate.
We are investing heavily in the growth of the business and in deploying the necessary charging infrastructure across the UK. With the backing we have, we will be one of the best funded Charge Point Operators in the UK – this means investment in jobs, investment in developing our people and their skills – and new offices. We expect to have bases across the UK and to be one of the largest, most reliable and best value operators in the country.
This partnership is all about ensuring drivers have the best user experience possible. This is what will help encourage more and more drivers to make the switch – faster!
My current EV is an i-Pace, which has attracted some negative press, but I have found to be excellent.
I have a new car arriving soon, which will be one of the first to operate vehicle to grid (V2G) – this will enable me to operate my house off-grid, with existing hot-water storage and my soon to be installed photovoltaic system. This will help the business develop new solutions for our customers to access low cost, low carbon energy.
I did 400 miles in less than 24hours last weekend – to Cornwall and back to visit my parents. I have journeyed to Cornwall many times, which is 200 miles for my family, and have managed to do it fully laden with all our camping gear (trailer and roof box) and five people – I am eager to show that EVs are not an impediment to our lifestyle and that you can do pretty much as you did before.
Yes – always plan your charging options ahead and avoid busy travel times if you can – e.g. Exeter Services at 5pm on a Sunday!
Download the app, register as a user to make payment easier and check ahead if you can to make sure no-one else is using the charge point you want.
Always move your car as soon as you are fully charged, and at busy times on rapids stop charging at 90% to allow others to use the charger – everything slows down then anyway.
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