Latest news with #MandySimpson
Daily Mirror
03-08-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
UK households with driveways 'might have to install new device' by 2030
A warning has been issued over a new device that must be installed at homes across the UK by 2030 - and it could affect motorists and drivers who have electric vehicles UK households with driveways have been alerted to the possibility of needing to install a new device by 2030, as warnings are issued to electric vehicle (EV) owners about potentially obsolete technology. Simpson and Partners, an eco-friendly charger manufacturer, is advising motorists and road users to consider the lifespan of their home EV charging points. The firm predicts that over 100,000 charging units will be discarded by 2030. Mandy Simpson, co-founder of the company, issued a stark warning to EV owners across the nation: "It's time consumers knew the truth about charger lifespans - and some won't last as long as the electric cars they charge. It comes after drivers told they risk £1,000 charge if they don't 'take photo' on holiday "Building the electric vehicle infrastructure is crucial to encourage greater electric vehicle uptake, but not if the chargers can't be updated. An SandP charger will not end up in landfill, they are engineered and designed to last. "The majority of chargers bought today are sealed units that can't be updated - they have to be thrown out and replaced as new technology arrives." David Simpson, co-founder and COO, expressed his excitement about their new chargers being fully accredited with the Intelligent Octopus GO energy tariff, reports Birmingham Live. He said: "We are very excited that our new chargers are fully accredited with the Intelligent Octopus GO energy tariff, which makes light work of charging an EV when prices are the most competitive. "It opens up mass-market smart charging that's inclusive, effective, and ready for whatever car you drive. Additionally with our vehicle to grid capability, customers will in the future have the opportunity to earn cash when sending energy back to the grid. "A huge thanks to the Kraken and Octopus teams for working together with us to deliver the benefits of the Intelligent Octopus Go to our loyal customers." Mandy continued: "We refuse to design, engineer and manufacture products that just end up in landfill. It really should not be happening in our journey to a more sustainable world."
Daily Mirror
01-08-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Car owners could face large bills for replacements on their driveways 'by 2030'
A firm manufacturing chargers has warned that many currently used by UK drivers are not upgradeable and will inevitably need replacing as they become outdated Electric vehicle (EV) drivers are being warned that the charging technology on their driveways could be destined for landfill within just a few years. A charging equipment manufacturer has cautioned that numerous units currently being used by British EV motorists cannot be upgraded and will inevitably require replacement as they become obsolete. Simpson and Partners, which produces eco-friendly chargers, is encouraging motorists to think about how long their domestic electric car charging points will last. As charging technology advances at the same breakneck speed as electric vehicles themselves, the firm predicts that more than 100,000 charging units will end up in landfill by 2030, because they cannot keep pace with the newest developments, reports the Express. Co-founder Mandy Simpson said: "It's time consumers knew the truth about charger lifespans - and some won't last as long as the electric cars they charge. "Building the electric vehicle infrastructure is crucial to encourage greater electric vehicle uptake, but not if the chargers can't be updated. An S&P charger will not end up in landfill, they are engineered and designed to last. "The majority of chargers bought today are sealed units that can't be updated - they have to be thrown out and replaced as new technology arrives." Simpson and Partners declared that its chargers were future-ready, featuring straightforward updates for both hardware and software within secure, weatherproof housings. The firm has recently launched the Home Series Gen V3 EV charger, set to spearhead intelligent bi-directional charging (V2G) between electric vehicles and the grid. The company revealed it had also enhanced its Gen 2 and Gen 3 chargers to work with the Intelligent Octopus Go tariff, now enabling motorists to access smart energy savings, regardless of vehicle type. This provides six hours of off-peak electricity each night for the entire household, enabling the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly EV charging. Furthermore, customers can benefit from the new Octopus Intelligent Drive package, providing unlimited scheduled smart charging for a fixed £30 monthly charge. David Simpson, co-founder and COO, said: "We are very excited that our new chargers are fully accredited with the Intelligent Octopus GO energy tariff, which makes light work of charging an EV when prices are the most competitive. It opens up mass-market smart charging that's inclusive, effective, and ready for whatever car you drive. "Additionally with our vehicle to grid capability, customers will in the future have the opportunity to earn cash when sending energy back to the grid. A huge thanks to the Kraken and Octopus teams for working together with us to deliver the benefits of the Intelligent Octopus Go to our loyal customers." Mandy Simpson said: "We refuse to design, engineer and manufacture products that just end up in landfill. It really should not be happening in our journey to a more sustainable world."
Daily Mirror
19-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Huge blow as 100k EV chargers that can't be upgraded will soon become obsolete
Brits who bought EVs with home chargers believing the futuristic tech would last could be in for big surprise — as experts reveal the bleak future of around 100,000 home charging units Brits with electric vehicle (EV) chargers have been warned that the handy appliance will soon become completely obsolete. As the UK continues its drive toward cleaner, greener transportation, there's a looming environmental issue few saw coming — more than 100,000 EV chargers could be destined for UK landfills by 2030. Experts at Simpson & Partners, a British company that designs and manufactures EV chargers, explained that the issue lies in the design of these devices. Most home EV chargers today are sealed units, so while they can be updated with new software remotely thanks to over-the-air updates, hardware is a different story altogether as these devices are not built with upgrades or repairs in mind. This is similar to many modern smart phones and headphones that have been designed with a business strategy named 'planned obsolescence' - which encourages consumers to repurchase products again and again rather than being able to fix the item and use it forever. Many EV chargers fall under this category, and cannot typically be opened and serviced once they leave the manufacturer. If a component fails, or when the hardware becomes incompatible with newer models or power standards, the unit is essentially useless. A major problem lies in the fact that even if you wanted to repair or replace a part inside the charger, you generally can't do so without destroying the device — they're not made to be taken off the wall and disassembled for repairs. There's no simple way to open them up without breaking the unit or voiding its safety certifications, so once the technology inside the unit is outdated — an inevitability given the pace at which EV tech is evolving — the charger simply becomes electronic waste. At some point in the life of each of these devices, owners will face a simple but unfortunate choice — throw the charger away or take it to a landfill and leave it in the e-waste pile. There is currently little in the way of a sustainable infrastructure to recycle or refurbish these chargers. As EV charging technology moves forward, the hardware issue remains largely unaddressed. While companies like Simpson & Partners produce upgradable charger designs, unfortunately these are the exception rather than the rule at the moment. Co-founder and brand director Mandy Simpson said: "At Simpson & Partners, we've taken a different path. We've built our chargers to be modular, weatherproof and engineered to evolve. "Both hardware and software are repairable, upgradeable and updatable. So yes, you can still do over-the-air updates, but when the hardware eventually needs to be replaced, it can be. They're built to stay useful for the long haul." For now, the vast majority of home EV charge points are sealed and built for short-term use rather than long-term sustainability. This damming situation could create a major headache for the government's green commitments, and feels like a huge slap in the face for Brits who have switched to EVs to help save the environment. Without a major shift in how EV chargers are designed, repaired and recycled, the UK could soon find itself dealing with over 100,000 pieces of obsolete plastic and metal junk that can't be reused. This would come as a huge blow — for both consumers and the environment alike.
