Hello Emil, would you like to introduce yourself?
I’m Emil Stefan, owner of C21 srl, founded more than 20 years ago in the early days of June 2012 in Turin. Our goal has always been to provide the highest quality of services and products to customers in the field of civil and industrial electrical systems. We have always had middle-to-high-end customers, among these are McDonalds, FCA, Cornaglia, Leonardo di Casele, BNL, Burger King, well-established restaurants in the area. But over time we have also started to cater to smaller customers, private individuals, and SMEs.
Our core business (“niche electricians”) is technological systems: alarm systems, advanced home automation, but we also handle large realities with machine maintenance. We operate throughout the peninsula, providing assistance and emergency services within 24 hours throughout Northern Italy thanks to the presence of three branches: the main one in Turin and then Milan and Petra Ligure.
For 3 years we have been in the electric mobility sector, customers have started to buy electric cars and to request the installation of wallboxes (private/semi-public charging stations). Until a few years ago, it was a completely unknown market, but after careful and thorough market research, we realized that there was no one dealing with these installations. So we decided to create a branch of the company that would only deal with this area for private individuals and companies. To do this, we followed numerous courses and obtained the necessary certifications. From all this, Be Energy was born.
There is little information even today, often even professionals are not well informed. There are very important regulations to follow and many lack the necessary professionalism to carefully manage all the procedures.
Here Emil’s phone rings: it’s a potential customer, he says he needs help because the wallbox is not working as it should. The first thing Emil asks him is who installed it: the answer is “an electrician friend of mine”. It almost seems deliberate. Emil tells me that he receives at least 3 calls of this kind every week. Customers who have the wallbox installed by inexperienced electricians, and only later ask for help from specialized professionals like them. Because, precisely, the installer is a profession that cannot be improvised. Emil continues:
We believe electric mobility is in a phase of development, and if you are prepared and choose the right product, there’s plenty of room for growth. The market is still new, there are numerous requests from manufacturers around the world to become installers and/or distributors. We have tried many, and discarded just as many, because the product does not guarantee stability. Our company policy is based on quality: you only hear from the customer at the time of installation and for Christmas greetings, not to have to keep going back.
Daze offers a stable, quality product, which does not cause problems and with an always present service center: so their business is like ours. The company supports us on the marketing side. We therefore have the same standard and the same values, it was normal to become partners. And in fact, once the Dazebox is skillfully installed, it never generates complaints.
Why should a customer install a wallbox?
The first advantage is the convenience of charging whenever and however they like at home; the second advantage is economic. The electricity paid for at home costs less than those of the energy providers of public columns. And there are still not enough public columns. That’s why it pays to have your own wallbox.
To become an installer it is not enough to pull cables: you need to do a course to better understand the product; manage power, photovoltaic, power management etc. There is a big difference between knowing how to do it at an amateur level and a professional level.
What regulations should be followed for the installation?
The rules are multiple and constantly evolving; at a bureaucratic level, the constant is always the declaration of conformity at the end of the work, especially in condominiums (which account for about 50% of Be Energy’s installations).
What permits are required for the installation?
No permits are required to install a wallbox in a private setting, except for a simple request from the space owner.
Can they be installed in any electrical system?
Yes, wallboxes can be installed in any electrical system, whether it’s single-phase or three-phase. If they are intended for shared use, it is important that they do not come with an integrated cable. Instead, they should have an outlet to allow anyone to charge using their own personal cable.
Do you need to change the power of the electrical system?
No, you don’t need to change the power of the meter. You just need to choose a wallbox that suits your electrical system (single-phase or three-phase). Of course, it would be ideal to have a system with at least 6kW to ensure adequate charging speed.
Where is the best place to install a wallbox (garage, external parking lot, etc.)?
There is no general best place; it depends on the customer and their space. The key factor is proximity to the meter, from which the cables need to be run to the charging station.
How do you safely use the charging station?
Safety is the responsibility of the manufacturer and the installer. If these two parties do their job correctly, the customer’s usage will always be safe. It’s simply a matter of connecting the cable to the car. There are safety devices such as circuit breakers and release coils that are essential for user safety, and every installer should know how to install them properly.
How does your company operate when contacted for an installation?
We schedule a free technical visit, choose the installation location together with the customer, prepare a quote at the office by selecting the appropriate wallbox for their case, and fully describe both the product and the installation process. Once the customer approves the quote, we arrange the appointment within a few days (we always have stock available), and we install the wallbox. Following the installation, we provide a declaration of compliance, and then proceed with payment.
Are there any specific maintenance requirements?
Given the nature of the wallbox product, maintenance is usually not necessary. It’s common that within a few years, due to the rapid expansion of the sector, the wallbox may be replaced with a more advanced model that offers better performance and new cutting-edge features. In this case, the replacement process is significantly less demanding and costly compared to the initial installation. The majority of costs for the user, in this case, are primarily related to the price of the charger.
Can you explain in very simple terms what a wallbox is and its advantages? How does it differ from public charging stations?
If you ask me to explain in simple terms what a wallbox is, I can simplify it by saying that a wallbox is a domestic charging station that allows you to conveniently charge your electric car at home. Typically, it is installed on a garage wall (hence the name “wallbox”).
As for the advantages, without getting too technical, I can say that a wallbox ensures greater safety, as it is equipped with intelligent control systems that can monitor and limit the load on our home’s electrical system. Additionally, thanks to the programmability of charging sessions, it allows for savings on consumption and utility bills. The wallbox is convenient because it is always available for charging, which is faster compared to using a traditional power outlet.
The differences between wallboxes and public charging stations can be identified in the etymology of the words themselves, if we want to. A wall-mounted charging device can be called a wallbox, while the same device mounted on a vertical support like a totem can be called a charging station. However, in this new world, there is still no universally accepted terminology, and often anything public is referred to as a charging station, although private charging stations can also exist. It’s true that the cost of charging with a wallbox is significantly lower than using a public charging station, as the cost per kWh is determined by the user’s electricity provider.
What does it take to become a wallbox installer?
To become a wallbox installer, one must first have a strong orientation towards innovation and be able to separate personal preferences from the undeniable direction our society is heading. A strong belief in the electric revolution is essential. What does an installer do? They provide advice to the customer, and today, allow me to say, they also educate them to some extent, and of course, they carry out the installation according to professional standards.
How do you safely use the charging station?
The safe use of a wallbox should not be dependent on the actions of the user but solely on the quality of the installation carried out by the professional. If it is done properly, the customer only needs to connect the car to the wallbox and rest assured. I must emphasize that it is not advisable to entrust the installation to someone who is not adequately trained to perform it.
What are the main resistances/uncertainties of customers?
Again, this opens up a wide range of considerations, but I’ll try to be concise: those who purchase an electric vehicle (whether private individuals or companies) are generally open to change and aware that installing a wallbox is necessary to protect themselves and make their investment in electric vehicles worthwhile. They are users who don’t need to decide whether or not to install a wallbox, but rather only need to choose who and when to entrust the supply and installation of their wallbox.
As for customers considering installing a charging station in their business (whether it’s a hotel, sports center, parking lot, or any other facility), there are still different schools of thought. However, these schools of thought will tend to increase and eventually converge into the only sensible school of thought for the current era: “I MUST HAVE a charging station.” Fortunately, our generation will not only be remembered for the Covid pandemic but also (and hopefully more so) for witnessing and being part of the electric revolution.
What are the benefits of working with Daze?
There are numerous advantages to collaborating with Daze, which can be divided into technical benefits and personal relationship benefits.
The team at Daze strongly believes in the project they have fully embraced. They are an exceptional team that conveys genuine enthusiasm, which is crucial to becoming a point of reference in any business. However, enthusiasm alone is worthless without a high-quality product, and these guys have everything covered!