Clothes retailer Next rolls out Rolec charging points

Next is to introduce Rolec EV Charge Online charging points across its retail network.

Next has appointed the company to design and commission a second phase of charge point installations featuring Rolec’s EV Charge Online system, which provides all EV drivers with the ability to interact with the charging points using their mobile phones instead of traditional and restrictive RFID cards. 

EV Charge Online is an alternative way of managing and interacting with electric vehicle charging points and charging networks, and according to Rolec gives the host full control of their own charge points - enabling them to set their own tariffs and monitor both real time and historical charging activity. 

EV drivers can use the charging points without ever having to become a member of a charging network - and therefore no longer having to pay costly membership, subscription or connection fees. 

Rolec EV has to date manufactured and supplied over 55,000 charging points in a variety of different formats, including its EV Charge Online and SmartCharge ranges, and recently launched its StreetCharge range of EV charging streetlights. 

Rolec EV’s managing director Kieron Alsop said: “We are delighted that Next have chosen and adopted our philosophy of EV charging. For years I personally have been campaigning that an EV driver should not have to pay membership, subscription and connection fees to a charge point network operator. 

“We at Rolec EV have developed EV Charge Online, which allows charge points to be installed by anybody in any number. These charge points also instantly become part of a people's charging network. 

“This allows the host, council, business, etc. to set their own tariffs and, while EV Charge Online still manages their charge points for them, ensures they have full visibility and overall control - and no longer have to pay license or connection fees. 

“EV Charge Online is even more beneficial for the EV driver, with NO more subscription fees, NO more membership fees and NO more connection fees. The EV driver can simply cancel that membership and Direct Debit, and at last only pay using their mobile phone for the charge advertised on the charging point – which is just as it should be.

“I appreciate that the EV Charge Online network is only a few hundred charging points strong since its official launch earlier this year, but everything has to start somewhere and we are growing the network daily so that numbers will be in the thousands very soon. 

“A further positive point about EV Charge Online is that it can be retro-fitted to existing charging points - so if you have an RFID charging network in your town, city or business we can quickly convert them to the new people's charging network, which works for EV drivers, charge point operators - and the industry as a whole.”