In May 2019, British newspaper The Guardian reached a groundbreaking decision: It announced that, going forwards, it would exclusively use the term "climate emergency" in its articles instead of "climate change". Their aim was to better express in words the seriousness of our current trajectory, rather than continuing to downplay the consequences. The idea was to give more weight to the terms and descriptions we use when talking about these issues in order to attract more attention to the associated problems – problems that we are now actually facing.

Like the media, companies now have an important role to play in raising awareness of social and environmental issues, both through their words and by setting an example. This includes making clear how important it is to speed up the energy transition, to fund advances in decarbonisation and to promote the transition to electromobility. After all, companies are part of society, which means they too must live up to their social responsibilities.

Charging at Work
The availability of charging infrastructure is crucial to the development of electromobility and the transition to electric vehicles. Drivers won't be willing to give up their internal combustion vehicles completely unless they are sure there will be charging options available. That doesn't mean they necessarily need a charging station at home. They can also use mobile devices, public charging stations or DC chargers to charge their vehicle, and indeed these have proven to be effective drivers to encourage a move away from fossil fuels.

But the biggest factor, perhaps, is the availability of charging stations at work, which can tip the scales in favour of buying an electric car. This is especially true in large cities, where many residents have limited access to energy sources.

Aside from our own homes, our workplace is where we spend most of our time, parking the car there for hours on end – so why not use that time wisely? If drivers can easily and conveniently charge their vehicle during working hours – around eight hours a day – there is no need to charge it at home overnight.

A Two-Fold Benefit for the Environment
According to a study by the Fraunhofer Institute (commissioned by the environmental non-profit Naturschutzbund Deutschland e. V.), charging at the workplace can help save even more CO₂, especially if the energy comes from renewable sources. That’s because charging vehicles during working hours lets you use photovoltaic modules to power the charging infrastructure, since most solar energy is generated during these times. This produces a two-fold benefit for the environment: employees get a sustainable form of mobility, and the energy used comes from a green source.

At Juice, we are aware that electromobility goes far beyond simply preventing vehicle emissions. Sustainable mobility must be understood as an overall concept, taking into account how the energy is generated, the charging infrastructure and the vehicle itself. A good example of this approach is the one taken by our newly founded subsidiary, Juice Power AG, whose perks in the car parks at Juice's headquarters are already benefiting the entire workforce. Any electric car at the company headquarters can be charged for no cost at all, whether it’s a company or a private car, using electricity generated from hydropower. As an expert in charging solutions, Juice sees this as a way to set a good example.

But it can't just be companies in the electromobility industry that set a good example; every company, regardless of sector, must live up to its responsibility as a driver of change. The commitment to a more sustainable and efficient mobility model is everyone's business.

A Social Benefit for the Employee and the Environment
But does offering charging infrastructure also benefit the company itself? The answer is a resounding "yes". The option to charge vehicles during working hours is an important benefit that companies can offer their employees. It's important to remember that we are in the age of "employer engagement". More than ever, companies are striving to achieve a strong and appealing employer brand in order to attract and retain qualified professionals. To do this, you need to offer more than just a paycheck at the end of the month. It's about offering an "emotional salary". Employees need to be able to identify with the company, while also ensuring the best possible working and living conditions for themselves personally.

Around 1810 entrepreneur Robert Owen, considered the father of cooperativism, began to formulate his theory that labour performance was directly related to workers' living conditions. And while individual theories like this one may come and go, the basic idea still applies: employees' productivity is directly proportional to their quality of life, in both the professional and private spheres.

By offering our employees the option to charge their vehicle at work, we're not just providing them with a perk; we're also promoting a sustainable mobility model and encouraging the use of truly clean energy. And that's a great way to spread electromobility from the office out into the world.