Training fleet drivers on EV home charging could help cut costs and enable drivers to get more out of their electric vehicles.  

The AFP said many EV fleet drivers are in the dark on key charging practices

While a lot of attention is being paid to public charging, the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) said comparatively little was being said about charging at home – leaving drivers in the dark on key practices.  

Paul Hollick, chair at the industry body, said there was often an assumption that drivers would just know how to use their domestic charger – one that was frequently proven wrong.  

“We are hearing from our members that drivers often don’t know much about home charging, beyond how to connect their vehicle. It does seem to be an area where parties such as employers, manufacturers, charging providers and organisations such as the AFP need to fill the gap.”  

The two key areas where advice was needed centred around drivers charging vehicles overnight irrespective of whether it was needed and not being aware to access power at times when it was cheapest.  

Hollick continued: “Our members are finding that many new EV drivers are treating their new vehicle in the same way as they might their mobile phone. They come home and they plug in their car or van overnight, no matter what the state of charge.  

“This isn’t good for mobile phones and it isn’t good for EVs. You shouldn’t seek to top up your vehicle continually but let the battery run down to the point where it needs charging if your journey pattern allows. Many experts recommend keeping the charge in a 20-80% range.”  

He also spotlighted that charging in the early evening typically costs more and is much better done in the early hours, when it tends to be a lot cheaper and can make a substantial difference to EV running costs.  

Hollick added that the AFP had received requests from fleets wanting to hold short orientation courses for new EV drivers covering charging and more.  

“Employers want to ensure that employees know how to charge their vehicles but additionally, recognise how to adapt their driving style, such as using regenerative braking and a ‘one-pedal’ approach. This can all be covered in a couple of hours. It’s obviously important that people adopting electric cars and vans develop good habits early on.” 

The AFP site includes a number of resources about fleet electrification for members and can be found at www.theafp.co.uk.