EV Charging & Fleet Insights: Best of LinkedIn CW 37/38

Hello everyone,

Welcome again to our 'Best of LinkedIn' posts for EV charging and commercial fleets.

Across CW 37/ 38, we're featuring 62 handpicked posts and 18 new people you should follow.

In our highlighted read, Mark Pymm shares his insights on the maturing EV charging industry and its shift toward customer-focused solutions.

We have also included the most relevant events focusing on EV charging and commercial fleets.

Have a great week ahead and many thanks for your insights!

Thomas

What are you exactly doing? Market Research for B2C vs. B2B

Since nearly 15 years I try to answer the question as simple as possible, but it´s still harder as expected. Sometimes we see company profiles of other players on the market and think we do exactly the same, BUT: Digging deeper shows 0% overlap.

But why is it so complex? The reason is, that everything sounds similar, but one is focusing on B2C, the other is focusing on B2B.

Audience Segmentation

• B2C: Focuses on broad demographics like age, income, and lifestyle. Consumer decisions are often personal and emotional.
• B2B: In contrast, B2B market research addresses a narrower audience of professional buyers who make decisions on behalf of their organizations. Segmentation is more complex and typically focuses on firmographics (company size, industry, revenue), role-specific needs (C-suite vs. operational roles), and buying behaviors specific to procurement processes. Additionally, industry-specific trends and pain points are critical in shaping the research approach.

Decision-Making Process

• B2C: Fast and often driven by personal preferences or emotions. Research emphasizes consumer sentiment and buying triggers.
• B2B: The B2B buying process is lengthier and more rational, involving multiple stakeholders. Decision-making is influenced by factors such as ROI, long-term value, and operational efficiencies. Market research in B2B must capture the complexities of this decision journey, including stakeholder mapping and identifying the influence of procurement departments, engineers, and executives. Research tools include in-depth interviews, case studies, and expert panels to uncover deeper industry-specific insights.

Research Methodologies

• B2C: Primarily quantitative, using surveys, web analytics, and sentiment analysis to capture broad consumer behavior.
• B2B: B2B research tends to leverage a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. While quantitative surveys may still be used, qualitative methods such as in-depth interviews, customer advisory boards, and case studies provide richer insights into complex decision-making processes. Additionally, competitive analysis and industry benchmarking are critical to understanding market dynamics and positioning in the B2B space.

Buying Behavior

• B2C: Driven by brand loyalty, emotions, and convenience, leading to shorter purchase cycles.
• B2B: B2B buyers are more analytical, focusing on value, performance, and risk mitigation. The sales cycle is longer and involves multiple decision-makers across different departments. In B2B, research must account for these complex buying cycles, understanding not just individual preferences but also organizational needs and long-term strategic goals. Risk-aversion, cost-benefit analysis, and compliance with industry standards often play critical roles in decision-making.

Product and Service Customization

• B2C: Products are generally standardized for a mass market. Research focuses on trends and consumer preferences.
• B2B: B2B products and services are often highly customized or tailored to specific business needs. Market research focuses on identifying these niche requirements, ensuring solutions align with industry regulations, technological integration, and scalability. Customization is frequently a competitive advantage in B2B, and research must identify both expressed and latent customer needs to drive product development.

Sales and Marketing Channels

• B2C: Leverages broad channels like digital marketing, social media, and in-store promotions. Research identifies effective channels for consumer engagement.
• B2B: B2B sales processes rely more on direct sales efforts, relationship building, and industry-specific marketing tactics such as trade shows, white papers, and webinars. Market research must assess the effectiveness of these channels in fostering relationships and delivering content that supports complex purchasing decisions. Digital channels, such as LinkedIn and email marketing, are also crucial, but research must account for their role in longer, trust-building sales cycles.

The Shift Towards Tailored, High-Quality EV Charging Solutions

According to Mark Pymm , the EV charging industry is evolving, with fleet managers, leasing companies, and EV OEMs moving from standard solutions to more tailored, customer-focused approaches.

Companies are now prioritizing the delivery of a complete digital journey, offering diverse hardware options, and ensuring quality and compliance in the installation process through direct partnerships. This shift reflects the industry's maturation, as businesses seek distinctive solutions that add value and differentiate them in the market.

Upcoming Events

24-25 September 2024 | MOVE America by MOVE: Mobility Re-imagined

24-26 September 2024 | Forth Roadmap Conference 2024 by Forth

25-26 September 2024 | bfp FORUM 2024 by bfp FUHRPARK & MANAGEMENT

01-02 October 2024 | EV World Congress by EV Infrastructure and Energy Summit

08-09 October 2024 | Fleet & Mobility Live 2024 by Fleet & Mobility Live

09-10 October 2024 | EV Charging Infrastructure Europe 2024 by CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE

10-11 October 2024 | 12th SIGNal Fleet Day & mobiliTree Fleet Test 2024 by SIGNal Design GmbH

15-17 October 2024 | EMOVE360° by eMove360° - Electric & Autonomous Mobility

21-22 October 2024 | Green Auto Summit by Green Auto Summit

21-22 November 2024 | 3rd Annual Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles Summit by VicOne with Gregor Knappik

22 October 2024 | Mobility Connect 2024 in Milan by Geotab

26-27 March 2025 | Flotte! Der Branchentreff

27-28 May 2025 | CHARGETEC: Charging Technology & Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles

Best of LinkedIn: Calendar Week 37

5 key takeaways on scaling EV infrastructure in Germany - Joerg Heuer

The EV charging dilemma: Insights from Johannes Pallasch - Florian Kulzer

Public fast charging tender for trucks in Germany: Key details and opportunities - Jaap Burger

Shaping the future of electromobility: Insights from electrive LIVE - Tobias Scharfen

Build vs Buy: Navigating the future of IT platforms for Charge Point Operators - Glenn L'Heveder

The future of bidirectional charging: Insights from electrive’s summer special - Marcus Fendt

CO₂ fleet targets and the car industry: Should the limits be adjusted? - Harald M. Depta ⚡️🚙 📚

A memorable ICNC24: Shaping the future of charging with live demos - Gowrynath Sivaganeshamoorthy

Real-world insights: Electric trucks cut costs and emissions - Tobias Wagner

TCO Alliance: Driving the electrification of truck fleets with ElectroFleet - Johann Olsen

Challenges and opportunities of the future in heavy-duty transport – A conversation with Arnd Franz - Sebastian Henßler

EV Charging: A game-changer for parking operators - Ilkka Koisti

Accelerating electric truck adoption: Private charging infrastructure webinar - Andreas Stahl

ICNC24 Wrap-Up - ⚡ Orlin RadEV ⚡

China’s strategy: Exporting EVs while protecting key technology - Felix Hamer

EnBW HyperNetz expands access to 700,000 charging points across 17 countries - Peter Siegert

My weekend with the BYD Seal U: Personal thoughts and EV rankings - Oliver Schlodder

The pillars of a successful fleet decarbonisation - Stephen Fitter

EV charging price concerns: Insights from the intercharge network conference - Peter Schwierz

Are German electric car subsidies returning to save industry? - Erik Christian V.

Impressive growth: Austria's charging network expanding faster than ever - Philipp Wieser

Exploring EV charging trends: Insights from my podcast with FLEXECHARGE - Paul Gumienny

Countdown to 2035: The end of new non-electric vehicle sales - Claudio Geyken

Ferronordic e-Rental joins the TCO Alliance to enhance electric truck solutions - Patrick Holm

Electra opens Zurich’s fastest 400kW charging station at Bucheggplatz - Alina Swirski

Here’s your weekly EV charging news recap 👇 - Steve Taylor

Bridging the gap: aligning shippers and carriers on fleet electrification - Tharsis Teoh

EVs in focus: Exploring the future of electric mobility at Blenheim Palace - Tom Middleditch

Why electric trucks can cause a sensation in city cleaning - Sascha Hähnke

Charging electric trucks: Key players driving infrastructure development - Niall Riddell M.A.F.P

Celebrating World EV Day: Driving sustainability with Loblaw and Element Fleet Management - Andrea DeWees

Best of LinkedIn: Calendar Week 38

How Tibber’s Grid Rewards empowers EV owners to save and earn money - Merlin Lauenburg

Join me at bfp FUHRPARK & MANAGEMENT 2024: Insights on fleet challenges and pricing updates - Mathias Knauer

Looking back and ahead: Celebrating our third anniversary and the journey to sustainable e-mobility - Korbinian Kasinger

4 Conferences, 3 countries, 1 week, with PIONIX GmbH - Marco Möller

EV Auto Show Riyadh 2024: A successful event with exciting talks and panels - Wulf Schlachter

Could you imagine to see a German 🇩🇪 Police car at a public Charging station? In Saudi Arabia, it is possible... Lucid Motors in #Riyadh - Wulf Schlachter

Fleet & Mobility Day: Supporting B2B fleet electrification with smart charging solutions - Cédric Marquant

Political clarity and fleet electrification: Key discussions ahead at BFP Forum Mainz - Jörg Reimann

Exploring the future of Bidirectional Charging: Insights from the V2X Suisse Pilot Project - Marco Piffaretti

TotalEnergies opens first Deutschlandnetz charging hub: 133 more to come! - Michael Kerkhoff

Get ready for bfp FORUM 2024: Discussing GHG quotas and corporate mobility - Manuela Hotop

The real impact of choosing the right SIM for EV charging connectivity - Raphael Atayi

Insights from Auto Mobility Trends 2024 in Barcelona - Rodrigo Rojas Galeb

Simplifying home charging for company cars: Insights from reev's CEO, Eduard Schlutius - York Kolb

Upgrade your charge point management system effortlessly with Monta - Christian Weinberger

A look at IAA 2024: Progress in electrification and charging infrastructure - Robert Gunsing

Transforming real estate with smart energy solutions and charging infrastructure - Moritz Matthies

From fuel cards to kilowatts: Redesigning reimbursement policies for electric fleets - Anant Kapoor

How technology is transforming charge point site assessments for CPOs - Chris Chamberlain

Decarbonization in focus: electric trucks and connectivity shine at IAA 2024 - Madeleine Samios

Top 7 locations to install EV chargers - Viktoria Ladchuk

Recap of IAA Transportation 2024 in Hannover: A key event for the future of mobility - Aymeric Gabalda

The untold story: Combustion vehicle sales dropping as zero-emission cars rise - Ilana Weitzman

Electric trucks lead the way in the journey to zero-emission fleets - Bruno Lukas

Improving EV charging: Why customer focus and transparency matter - Maarten Hachmang

The shift towards tailored, high-quality EV charging solutions - Mark Pymm

Julius Wilhelm and Janek Metzner on the future of EVs and their record-breaking Cannonball Run - Chase Drum

Insights from AFLA 2024: The future of electric fleets - Amy Dobrikova

Flexible installation, ultra-fast charging: ADS-TEC Energy solutions in action - Sascha Alexander Koenig

Exploring the future of transportation at IAA 2024: From ICE to EV - Parno Roy Choudhury

The road to ZEVs: Key actions for heavy freight at Climate Week NYC - Andreas Follér

Challenging the myth: EV write-offs lower than traditional cars, says cap hpi - David Watts

Whom to Follow on LinkedIn - Newly Added

What's Next?

You'll be receiving our EV Charging & Fleet Insights biweekly going forward. We'll filter out and handpick the most relevant posts each week to help you navigate the LinkedIn jungle and find real value.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts.