In celebration of World EV Day, ESS magazine spoke with Kaitlin O’Neill, Site Selection Technician here at Believ. Read the conversation below or see more on their website:
The UK’s Electric Vehicles (EVs) market is projected to grow by nearly 9% resulting in a market volume of £39.12billion by 20291. The transportation sector is electrifying at an unprecedented pace, with an increasing number of electric passenger and fleet vehicles, buses, and trucks taking to the roads. And, the Government has mandated that 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans manufactured in Great Britain will be zero emission by 2030, increasing to 100% by 20352.
The number of publicly accessible charge points in the UK has also surged in recent years, but there is still an urgent need to scale up the infrastructure rollout to meet this increasing demand.
In celebration of World EV Day, we spoke with Kaitlin O’Neill, Site Selection Technician at charge point operator (CPO) Believ. She shares how her passion for archaeology influenced her career, the significance of World EV Day, her insights on the future of EV charging, and how her role supports Believ’s drive to scale up the rollout and make sustainable transport available to everyone.
Why did you choose to do an MA in Prehistoric Landscape Archaeology, and does it have any influence on your role today as Site Selection Technician at Believ?
I’ve been deeply passionate about archaeology since I was four years old. This passion led me to pursue both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the field. One aspect I particularly enjoy about landscape archaeology is the opportunity to engage with the environment in a holistic manner.
My job as Site Selection Technician at Believ involves the in-depth analysis of how people interact with their surroundings, helping us to consider and respect the wider environment when looking at infrastructure expansion. For instance, when planning the installation of a charge point, I consider not only the logistics of the environment in the immediate vicinity, but also how it might affect the local coffee shop or nearby shopping centres, who might see increased dwell time and footfall as a result of the installation.
Tell us about your career path, and what brought you to Believ?
After starting out in archaeology, I transitioned to a corporate position, where I realised I wanted a hands-on role that would allow me to make a difference to our environment.
I was recruited by Believ for my expertise in mapping, and I’ve been with the company for 10 months now. It’s been enjoyable to rediscover my passion for mapping and find ways to integrate my previous experience and skillsets into an innovative sector that that brings about concrete positive change.
In brief, what does your role at Believ entail?
I primarily manage charge point site selection and our Geographic Information System (GIS). This means I work on contracts throughout their various stages, from determining initial demand to proposing the exact location of charge points based on where they’re most needed by EV drivers and where logistics allow for smooth installation.
Most recently, I have also been helping to further develop Believ’s site selection mapping tool which has been created in conjunction with Loughborough University. It predicts EV charging infrastructure demand to a 400m2 area, which is far more specific than most tools on the market and really helps us make the most informed decisions on where charge points are needed most. It uses vast data sets pertaining to socio-economic demographics, consumer profiling, EV uptake and general levels of car ownership, availability of off-street parking, resident requests, and existing infrastructure availability. It’s a vital tool in ensuring that the charging infrastructure we install matches future driver demand.
Why is it important that we celebrate World EV Day?
It is important because we are such a new and developing industry, and World EV Day provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our industry, welcome new talent into the field, and support and nurture individuals, helping them develop their skills and grow professionally. For Believ, it’s also an opportunity to champion the women in our business as we feel it’s important to showcase what varied and interesting job roles the EV charging industry offers to women – even in some of the more traditionally male-dominated areas.
What advice would you give to other women looking to get into EV Charging?
Don’t be afraid. While entering a new industry can be daunting, my experience has been a hugely supportive working environment where we share knowledge and have a collective desire to continually learn within our fast-paced industry.
Therefore, go out and take the chance on something new!
What do you think the next five years are going to look like for the EV Charging industry?
Such a rapidly growing industry provides considerable opportunities for its employees and businesses to grow and develop. From a planning and mapping perspective, the amount of data we can use to help inform site selection is and will continue to increase dramatically. This makes our jobs easier, as the open availability of data creates transparency that helps us get the right charge points in the right locations, quicker. This in turn increasing consumer confidence in public charging and encourages more drivers to make the switch.
2 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pathway-for-zero-emission-vehicle-transition-by-2035-becomes-law
