Mark Lampard, Managing Director of go EV, is no stranger to the emerging world of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Australia. In a recent interview on the Fleet News Group podcast, Lampard unpacked the practical realities of EV charging, the rapid technological developments out of China, and why support and service should be front of mind for fleet managers making procurement decisions.
go EV, founded during Melbourne’s 2021 lockdown, has carved a niche in the EV ecosystem by supplying high-performance DC chargers, mostly in public charging applications. “We’ve now deployed with partners about 50-odd EV chargers in Australia—60 to 80 kilowatt models,” said Lampard. “A lot with NRMA, some on Chargefox, and others with independent CPOs.”
Fleets Need Options
The conversation began with the evolving role of public charging versus depot and home charging for fleets. Lampard noted that each model has its place: “Workplace charging works well when you’ve got solar on the roof and cars parked during the day. Home charging is trickier because of reimbursement challenges. Public charging is easiest to reimburse, but people get fatigued with the number of apps.”
He pointed out the current gap in solutions for home charging reimbursements: “People might have a granny charger… but how are they getting the money back for those electrons? There’s a need for smart, portable chargers or solutions that offer charging as a service.” He predicted more innovation in this space as technology costs come down.
From Hardware to Full-Service
While go EV made its name in public charging, the business is evolving. “We’re transitioning into a full-service provider, not just a supplier of hardware,” Lampard explained. The company is now eyeing heavy vehicle and fleet charging projects, with Lampard adding, “The future for go EV is in delivering solutions for customers.”
Although their hardware is often white-labelled—“If I’m popping up to an NRMA public charger… it’s just branded NRMA”—their reputation is built on performance and reliability. “We’ve had good feedback from owners and clients,” he said. “That’s been great.”
Charging Technology from China
Lampard, a regular at international trade shows, keeps a close eye on developments from China. “There’s excitement in these crazy high-powered chargers… megawatt plus output for light vehicles,” he said. Chinese companies like BYD, Zeekr and Huawei are pushing “flash charging” models that can deliver up to 1.2 megawatts using built-in batteries.
But he remains sceptical about the real-world application: “Personally, I don’t even think it’s particularly useful. It’s more like numbers on a brochure… There are other benefits to charging that don’t require a megawatt.”
He’s more enthusiastic about the overall EV growth in China: “150 brands at the Shanghai Auto Show, hundreds of models of EVs and PHEVs… The Chinese are smashing through boundaries with their long-term EV goals.”
Questions Fleet Managers Should Be Asking
When asked what fleet managers should prioritise when evaluating charging suppliers, Lampard was unequivocal: support. “What’s the service model? Who helps when things go wrong? Where are spares kept? How long to get a part and a service agent to site?”
He added that the industry has learned from its early mistakes: “Two years ago, older chargers were failing, and people were waiting 16 to 26 weeks for parts. That was unacceptable. Now, the platforms and CPOs are holding themselves and their suppliers to higher standards.”
For fleet buyers, this aligns with standard procurement logic. “It’s like when you buy a petrol vehicle—you want parts, you want service, you want someone to answer the phone when something goes wrong.”
Don’t Get Locked Out of the Future
Lampard also flagged a looming risk: obsolescence. The industry is transitioning from the long-standing OCPP 1.6J communication protocol to OCPP 2.0.1, which supports better features and cybersecurity.
“There’ll be a lot of chargers out in the field that are not OCPP 2.0.1-compatible,” he warned. “Manufacturers should come out and say whether their current models will support it, and what the upgrade path is. People who already have hardware should be going back to their supplier and asking.”
He applauded the New South Wales Government for including OCPP 2.0.1 in its funding criteria and called on suppliers to be transparent: “People can’t assume there’ll be unlimited updates and support forever.”
What’s Next for go EV?
Lampard is headed to Germany for another international trade show and hinted at two areas of interest: megawatt charging for trucks and the emerging vehicle-to-grid (V2G) sector. “I’m hoping to make some friends in the V2G market and see what the go is over there.”
With new developments around every corner and Australian fleets beginning to transition in earnest, Lampard remains upbeat—practical, but optimistic. “Fleet guys are going to be relying on this infrastructure to do their jobs. Support matters. Service matters. That’s what makes the difference.”
You can listen to the full interview with Mark Lampard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube as part of Season 4 of the Fleet News Group podcast.
