Calisen, the UK’s largest smart meter provider, has equipped its electric van fleet with solar battery maintenance technology to dramatically improve vehicle reliability.

The new solar panels, supplied by Genie Insights and powered by MIPV solar technology, specifically combat battery drain and are expected to reduce avoidable downtime by up to 50%.

Calisen runs a fleet of around 350 vans, including 2.8-tonne models from Stellantis and Toyota, which support a nationwide field force of approximately 1,100 engineers and technicians. One-third of the fleet is now fully electric.

Building on its commercial vehicle decarbonisation goals, the company has integrated the 50W solar panels, which continuously top up the vehicle’s 12V battery throughout the day, helping to prevent battery failures, maintain battery health and ensure vehicles remain operational at all times.

In an initial phase, 40 vehicles have already had the technology retrofitted and it is also being incorporated into Calisen’s newly procured vehicles which are converted to a bespoke specification before deployment into service.

There are a number of elements to electric vans which can draw on batteries, compromising vehicle reliability. Telematic units fitted to vans, for example, draw power even when vehicles are parked up, and over extended periods of inactivity such as public holidays, result in avoidable breakdowns and vehicle downtime.

Furthermore, manufacturers are also shrinking the size of 12V batteries in electric vans just as auxiliary power demands are increasing. This is creating a widening reliability gap where lower reserve capacity must manage heavier, continuous electrical loads.

The majority of Calisen’s electric vans travel around 100 miles each day, making them well suited to electrification. Drivers primarily charge their vehicles at home or through the public charging network, while the addition of solar charging provides an extra layer of resilience to the 12V battery to help maintain its charge between journeys.

Briony Morgan-Wilcox, Calisen’s fleet sustainability and efficiency manager, said: “Our engineers and technicians depend on their vehicles every day to deliver essential services to customers across the UK. We had to find a swift resolution to our battery problems and were introduced to Genie through a major fleet operator which had already rolled out solar panel technology to resolve a similar problem.

“The solar panels are already improving vehicle reliability, reducing avoidable downtime and ensuring our field staff can stay productive. The solar technology delivers a passive but always-on solution to a real operational headache while also supporting our wider sustainability objectives.”

The solar rollout forms part of Calisen’s broader sustainability strategy as it continues to expand its support for the UK’s energy transition whilst working towards decarbonising its fleet.

David Carlisle, sales manager at Genie Insights said: “We have worked in partnership with Calisen to help resolve their battery problems and we look forward to increasing their fleet utilisation. Battery failure has become a common challenge for eLCVs, and we believe our solar power proposition is a reliable and cost-effective solution to take away downtime challenges and optimise the long-term life of vehicle batteries.”