If you think that you are seeing more Teslas, Chevy Bolts and other EV vehicles on the road, you are not wrong. A story published by Car and Driver in August 2022 cites data from Automotive News states that over the first three months of 2022 EV sales increased by 60%. So, how is the shift in auto sales relevant to the custom integration industry? Savant notes that a recent study from Parks Associates finds EV owners are twice as likely to own or be interested in smart home technologies, which opens the door for installations for products such as EV charging stations — a product category the company recently entered in its latest power initiative.
Additionally, the Automotive News story points out those figures stand in contrast to the overall number of new vehicle registrations falling by 18% over the same period. Overall, the Car and Driver story states that EV vehicles represent 4.6% of the total U.S. car market. The article goes on to reference a report from IHS Markit that estimates the total number of EV vehicles could rise to become 25% to 30% of all new car sales by 2030, and those numbers could increase to 40% to 45% by 2035, especially with EV/hybrid sales mandates in states like California.
EVs Represent Lifestyle That Integrators Can Appeal To
Aaron Gutin, specification development director at Savant, addresses the question of why integrators would want to get involved with EV technologies by pointing out that clean power represents next-generation lifestyles.
“Smart power is quickly becoming the foundation of the smart home, and the custom integrator, as the trusted technology professional, is in an ideal position to showcase the value of next-level EV charging,” comments Gutin.
He says Savant is helping integrators to take advantage of this burgeoning opportunity through the introduction of its LVL 2 EV Charger, which can provide a differentiator for its dealers.
“The beautiful and elegantly functional form factor also stands out when compared to other chargers. It has a lockable, ergonomically designed charging gun and interchangeable dock equipped with flexible cable management,” Gutin explains.
“Each unit ships with the charger, a standard wand, and Tesla adapters. Plus, when installed as part of a Savant home, our EV charger delivers added visibility and control within the Savant Power ecosystem. When connected to a 60-amp Savant Power Module, the charger enables homeowners to monitor energy consumption trends, manage power usage and even use the charger off -grid.”
Dealers Can Educate Customers on Benefits of EV Charging
Integrators can also provide the information and awareness on EV charging products to educate customers. The LVL 2 EV Charger, provided as a partnership with Schumacher Electric, falls into what is known as a Level 2 charger, for instance. Gutin outlines the EV charging product classifications by saying Level 1 units are residential chargers that use standard 120-volt AC outlets, and they provide 3 to 6 miles of range per hour of charging. Level 2 products like the Savant unit, he says, run on 240-volts and are installed through hardwiring or outlet connections. Level 2 units install into both commercial and residential environments, and charge in the range of 20 to 60 miles per hour for a vehicle.
The final product tier is Level 3 chargers. These products run on 480-volts, and they deliver a range of 60 to 100 miles per hour of charging.
“Savant offers many training and educational opportunities for both integrators and end users,” he points out. Savant University offers a dedicated Power track that teaches dealers how to plan, size and sell smart energy.
“Homeowners can visit savant.com/power, which delivers a smart power educational resource where they will see how to manage power in their home, including information on alternative energy sources, battery storage solutions, automatic generators, smarter EV charging, and flexible load management. They can also explore the difference in benefits delivered by whole-home power management vs. emergency power management.”
Gutin adds that when integrators take a closer look at the potential of EV charging station installations, they will see numbers that indicate an immense level of EV vehicle sales growth over the next several years.
“The worldwide automobile market is experiencing a seismic shift,” he concludes. “By 2030, it is projected that nearly 52% of new vehicles sold in the United States will be electric vehicles [per a KPMG survey that was reported by CNBC]. This offers both a challenge and an opportunity for manufacturers and retailers alike.”
