The Renewable Energy Association (REA) and the UK Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Association (UK EVSE) are to merge, they announced this morning (30 March).
UK EVSE – which was established in 2013 – is to join forces with the REA’s EV Forum. Its members will join the REA, and many will also gain access to other REA member groups, such as the Solar Forum and the Energy Storage Forum.
The merger aims to create a “more cohesive voice for the sector”,
resulting in a robust and coherent representation of the sector to the government, the media and other key sector stakeholders, the REA said
Cenex, which already provides secretariat services the UK EVSE as well as chairing the group, is also to join the REA EV steering group. This is set to give the REA deepened technical expertise in charge point technology, installation and operations, enabling it to better respond to key industry debates relating to standards, data and the electricity grid.
Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, chief executive of the REA, lauded how “we are stronger when we work together”, with the integration meaning centralised resources, a more concentrated collective expertise and “ensuring coherent communications to government”.
“We hope that this move will both deepen the REA’s expertise in electric vehicle infrastructure but also empower our new members with knowledge and skill in our other work areas, such as that in solar and energy storage, all of which are converging at a rapid rate,” Skorupska said.
In February, the REA launched the Electric Vehicle Consumer Code (EVCC) through its subsidiary, Renewable Energy Assurance.
The EVCC applies to suppliers and installers of domestic EV charge points, whether they are acting on their own account or as a sub-contractor, spanning pre-sale activities, contracts, installation and completion of work, after-sale activities, complaints handling and the dispute resolution process.
Robert Evans, CEO of Cenex and chair of UK EVSE, said: “We have come an enormous way as a sector. The Association has been provided a voice for charge point providers and network operators during a period of rapid evolution in policy and the market.
“With the number of participants in the market burgeoning, now is the right moment for us to come together to ensure a well-resourced industry group.”
