Pod Point is to continue installing electric vehicle chargepoints for key workers and their employers despite pausing other activities due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As a result of the Government’s measures to control the spread of the virus, the chargepoint specialist has reduced its operations and introduced new working procedures involving physical customer interactions.

A statement from the company, which was acquired by EDF earlier this year, said: “Once circumstances allow, we will resume normal business activities as quickly as possible but because the situation is still developing, we don’t yet have a clear timeline for when that will be.

“It is important to state that we are constantly reviewing the situation and may change the measures as we get new information and guidance from the UK government.

“We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused by our new operating protocols and hope that you, your friends and families are keeping safe and well.”

The measures affect both home charger and commercial installations, as well as new safety procedures.

 

Homecharge installations

Homechargers can still be purchased, but Pod Point has paused all homecharge installation activity – including for customers who have already been given installation dates - except for:

  • People who are classified as a key worker and have a battery electric vehicle (BEV)

  • BEV only households which do not have a petrol, diesel, hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle to use.

 

Commercial installations

Pod Point has paused all commercial installation activity except for:

  • Workplace installations where those chargepoints are used by key workers

  • Workplace installations where those chargepoints are used by drivers who are solely reliant on a BEV for their mobility and do not have a homecharger.

  • Commercial installation of residential charging where those chargepoints are used by key workers
  • Commercial installation of residential charging where those chargepoints will be used by drivers who are solely reliant on a full battery electric car for their mobility.

 

Employers are still able to place orders for equipment and installation, which will be carried out when the situation allows. Equipment-only orders can also be made and will continue to be shipped during the pandemic.

 

Maintenance activities

Pod Point will continue maintenance activity of all existing homecharge customers, the public Pod Point network and workplace chargepoints which are needed to support home workers.

 

New safety measures

Pod Point has also introduced new safety measures to protect its employees and customers during the outbreak. These see:

  • All office-based staff working remotely in line with Government social distancing advice
  • Its field team observing enhanced hygiene and social distancing measures on installation and maintenance visits
  • It conducting enhanced pre-arrival checks for the remaining homecharge installs that it is carrying our to avoid contact between its field team and self-isolating households.

 

Founded in 2009, Pod Point has rolled out 62,000 charging points in the UK.

In 2018, it agreed a deal to In 2018, it agreed a deal to install around 2,400 charging points at 600 Tesco supermarkets around the UK, while it has also been chosen as an exclusive or preferred chargepoint supplier to a number of vehicle manufacturers, including Groupe PSA and MG Motor UK. 

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