EV charging + AI energy push
Global signals show a ramp in EV charging and smart energy: DC fast charging investments and planning tools are expanding, developers are bundling residential charging, and Enphase launched an AI home energy management system in Australia/New Zealand — all pointing to rising demand for EV‑ready homes and smart panels. That combination means more opportunity for contractors who wire homes for chargers, batteries, and future energy management. ( )
Enphase named the new platform “IQ Energy Management” and launched it for Australia and New Zealand on 26 March 2026 as part of its IQ Energy Router product family. (upstreamcalendar.com) The software pairs AI-driven scheduling with on‑device control to manage home solar, IQ Batteries, electric water heaters and EV chargers with the stated goals of boosting self‑consumption and lowering household bills. (pv-magazine.com) Transport for Wales opened free access to the ChargePoint Navigator planning platform for all 22 Welsh local authorities on 25 March 2026 to standardize site selection and reduce planning costs for public chargers. (electrive.com) In India, Swati Builders announced a partnership with Bolt.Earth to provision smart EV charging across new residential projects in Ahmedabad; Bolt.Earth says its network has exceeded 100,000 chargers deployed across 1,900+ cities. (english.khabarpatri.com) International data show a shift toward higher‑power public chargers: IEA reported ultra‑fast chargers (≥150 kW) grew roughly 50% in 2024 and now make up about 10% of public fast chargers, while U.S. modeling estimates roughly 182,000 DC fast ports (≥150 kW) would be needed by 2030 under a mid‑adoption scenario. (iea.blob.core.windows.net) Policy and market forecasts point to commercial growth behind that demand: North America’s DC charger market revenue was projected to rise from about USD 1.04 billion in 2025 to more than USD 26.15 billion by 2040 (CAGR ~24%), and federal guidance notes DC fast charging can replenish roughly 80% of many EV batteries within 20–60 minutes depending on charger power and vehicle limits. (fortunebusinessinsights.com)
