Q&A - PoGo Charge: Facilitating a UK EV charging network

PoGo Charge is an ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging network that provides fully funded EV charging infrastructure in strategic locations across the UK.

In November [2023], it signed a partnership agreement with LCP to support the installation of 329 ultra-rapid EV charging points at 89 retail sites across an LCP-managed retail park portfolio in England, Scotland, and Wales.

inspiratia speaks to Stuart Douglas, Managing Director at PoGo Charge, about its business model, the growth of the UK's EV charging sector, and what regulations need to be introduced to ensure the effective development of EV charging infrastructure across the UK market.

What is PoGo Charge, and what is its role in the UK market?

PoGo is an EV charging developer based in the UK. The firm currently focuses on partnerships in the retail, roadside and hospitality sectors. We aim to contribute to the growth of the EV industry by offering convenient and reliable charging services, thus supporting the transition to electric mobility in the UK. Our mission is to eliminate the inconvenience of long charging times by providing best-in-class ultra-rapid EV charging and being recognised as one of the top three operators in the UK.

How does PoGo Charge decide where it places its charging units?

PoGo Charge takes a data-driven approach to the location of our charging units. We work with an industry-renowned data analytics partner whose tool we utilise to analyse any potential site. A multitude of data feeds into the analysis of our sites. Primary information includes short stay points of interest (where an EV driver may spend c.20-40mins), the traffic flows on nearby roads and proximity to A/M roads. Overall, PoGo Charge focuses upon a strategy of targeting roadside, retail, or hospitality sites.

How important is it to cultivate a localised supply chain for your EV charging technology?

This is paramount to ensuring the rapid and efficient deployment of charging infrastructure. Our parent company, SWARCO Smart Charging, serves as our stock supplier for EV chargers, maintaining inventory within the UK. This localised supply chain enables us to swiftly meet the demands of any partnerships we enter into, facilitating the rapid deployment of chargers to strategic locations across the country. By having access to readily available stock within the UK, we can enhance the speed and efficiency of our network expansion, ultimately contributing to the growth and accessibility of EV charging infrastructure nationwide.

Often, rural areas do not receive the same attention for EV charging development as urban areas. How key is it for PoGo to form an equitable spread of EV charge points across the country?

It is crucial to PoGo to create a truly UK-wide footprint of chargers. There are multiple reasons behind this, one of which is to ensure that there is no 'charging inequality' and that all areas of the country are able to be equipped with chargers to encourage the nationwide mass adoption of EVs. It is also important to PoGo to create a diverse and varied driver community, this is assisted by ensuring rural areas also receive significant investment. We analyse, propose upon and deliver to many roadside locations in rural areas as these often see a high concentration of vehicles every day on average.

Is UK regulation up to speed with the fast and efficient deployment of EV charging infrastructure?

From PoGo's perspective, while there have been strides in UK regulation to support the deployment of EV charging infrastructure, we believe that further development is necessary to meet the demands of the rapidly growing EV market. As a proactive industry player, we advocate for better and fairer conditions to enable the swift and efficient rollout of charging infrastructure.

PoGo Charge is a founding member of ChargeUK, a collaborative initiative committed to investing in and delivering world-class charging infrastructure by 2030. Through ChargeUK, we advocate for policies that accelerate the rollout of a consumer-focused, fit-for-purpose EV charging ecosystem in line with the UK's net zero goals.

Additionally, as a ChargeSafe certified partner, we are dedicated to setting industry standards for safe and accessible public EV charging. By working with ChargeSafe, we aim to ensure that charging infrastructure meets stringent safety and accessibility criteria, providing drivers with peace of mind and promoting confidence in EV adoption.

At PoGo Charge, we recognise the importance of public policy and regulatory frameworks in supporting investment, accelerating rollout, and promoting consumer-friendly charging infrastructure. Through collaborative efforts with industry partners and regulatory bodies, we are committed to driving positive change in public EV charging, making safe and reliable charging accessible to all.

In April, the National Grid announced the Great Grid Upgrade, which will see £16 billion invested from 2021-2026. Will this help drive private investment in both grid infrastructure and EV charging?

Yes, significant investment in the UK's power provision will help drive investment in EV charging. If greater power is available across more areas of the UK, then more ultra-rapid units will be deployed to maximise on the power available. Further improvements in the Distribution Network Operators' speed of response to points of connection applications will also assist with the speed of the UK's rollout of ultra-rapid charging infrastructure. 

What is the importance of partnership deals such as the one struck with LCP last year in the upscaling of your EV charging offering?

PoGo Charge thrives on its partnerships and utilises these relationships to grow at scale. As well as the LCP deal that closed in 2023, our deal with Kew Green Hotels from 2022 has had a similar impact in terms of PoGo Charge's scaled growth. We will continue to work with our key accounts and partners to continually update and evolve the charging experience for the EV community. Along with these large-scale landlords with multiple sites, PoGo Charge is always interested in individual sites with smaller-scale landlords; we believe in a diverse approach to our pipeline of chargers/sites.

Are there any concerns over supply chain availability for the UK EV charging sector?

From PoGo's perspective, while there may be concerns over supply chain availability for some players in the UK EV charging sector, our strategic advantage lies in the stock-holding capabilities of our parent company, SWARCO Smart Charging. With our parent company holding significant stock of EV chargers in the UK, we are uniquely positioned to swiftly respond to market demands and efficiently deploy chargers to our secured pipeline of projects.