Having been targeted by drivers, the UK’s EV charging network is maturing. As well as traditional hubs at retail outlets and motorway services, providers are thinking outside the box to provide fleets with solutions that help maximise efficiency and uptime – and also minimise frustrations for drivers. Here is a roundup of some of the latest developments.

The Siemens solution

Depot360 aims to accelerate the EV transition by reducing barriers to electrify fleets

Technology provider Siemens recently launched its Charging-as-a-Service (CaaS) solution in the UK, which aims to provide design, installation, management and financing of electric charging infrastructure. Another key component to the Tier 1 supplier’s offering is a suite of fleet and energy management solutions for businesses.

Depot360 aims to accelerate the EV transition by reducing barriers to electrify fleets. It enables all fleet businesses to outsource the deployment and maintenance of charging infrastructure to a single supplier at no upfront cost. The service is provided to businesses under a predictable monthly payment plan.

Siemens aims for its end-to-end approach to reduce cost, resource and skills barriers to deploying EV charging infrastructure – enabling fleet operators to expedite their electrification efforts amid expectations for the ban on petrol and diesel cars to be restored to 2030 under the new Labour government.

The initial offerings from the Depot360 portfolio comprise Depot360 CaaS and Depot360 Managed Services. The service is part of Siemens Xcelerator, an open digital business platform that enables organisations to accelerate their digital transformation.

Depot360 Managed Services optimises charging, fleet and energy infrastructure through the provision of data-informed management and preventative maintenance. By integrating with telematics, this allows operators to guarantee that all vehicles will meet the required state of charge to complete their pre-defined routes, minimising vehicle downtime and maximising fleet availability.

The core of the Managed Services is Depot360’s energy management and optimisation platform, Depot360 AI. Using this platform, an expert team from the Siemens 24/7 Network Operations Center (NOC) can continuously leverage fleet-centric algorithms to monitor and manage the charging infrastructure’s performance. This enables them to identify and proactively solve issues based on data-driven decisions to improve and upgrade fleet operations, and ultimately provide full transparency into operations. The Managed Services solution is also available as a standalone offering for existing Siemens and non-Siemens charging infrastructure.

Green cabinet makeover

Image credit: Jeff Holmes and BT Group

BT Group, through its start-up incubation hub, Etc., has installed its first EV charge point in East Lothian, powered by one of the company’s green street cabinets as part of a UK-wide trial.

The site in Haddington marked the first phase of a project that could see the wider upgrade of BT Group-owned cabinets, traditionally used to store broadband and phone cabling, turned into charge points across the UK to address the shortfall in public EV charging points.

Local residents are able to charge their electric vehicles at no cost for a limited time throughout the pilot. Users can access the charge point by downloading the trial app from the App Store or Google Play Store.

The app, which has been designed and developed by BT Group in consultation with EV drivers, includes the features they most want to see including visibility of EV charge points from across the UK. It will also inform on real-time price, availability and charge speed, the ability to start, stop and monitor charge sessions via the app and to filter by connector type, kW speed and charging network.

Drivers are also able to connect their EV to the app to get live updates on battery levels, estimated costs and charge times – and access to charging history at a glance. Throughout the pilots, BT Group will test elements ranging from the digital customer experience to engineering and technology choices, operational and commercial options.

BT Group has identified up to 4,800 street cabinets that could be used for potential upgrade in Scotland alone, to meet increasing demand. West Yorkshire has been touted the next trial location, with the business hoping to roll the technology out at up to 600 areas around the UK.

Five ways to improve workplace charging infrastructure

Emma Loveday, senior fleet consultant, VWFS Fleet

Alongside supporting drivers with guidance around EV charging, businesses should also be looking to optimise the EV charging infrastructure they offer their workforce, says Emma Loveday, senior fleet consultant, VWFS Fleet.

“Although many businesses associate on-site charging infrastructure with the fleet, the provision of reliable, accessible and affordable charging for all employees is crucial to the longer-term acceleration of EV adoption,” reasons Loveday.

“Business charging infrastructure can be a significant investment and, as such, it should be carefully planned to ensure both a relevant provision for current EV drivers, as well as a future-proofed installation that meets the long-term needs of the business,” she adds.

Some of the top considerations when designing business charging infrastructure include:

1) Determine EV charging needs: consider the number of EV charge points needed – thinking about both current and potential future requirements. Think about the potential number of vehicles, when charging is required, available space, how much power the organisation can access and the budget available.

2) Identify the equipment needed: the charging equipment required will depend on a number of factors. It’s important to first understand who will be using the charge points, when they need to charge and how long they need access to them. For example, charging fleet vehicles overnight in a depot can use lower kW chargers, whereas a sales fleet with high mileage but regular office stops en route may need more rapid charging capabilities.

3) Assess electrical capacity: before charging infrastructure installation, consider: the electricity supply to the site; power demand from current business activity; current available electrical capacity and the additional power required.

4) Select the location of charge points: their location should be carefully considered, taking into account the proximity of the electrical supply to the site as well as available parking areas.

5) Create an EV charging policy: any workplace charging infrastructure installation should be supported by a comprehensive EV charging policy. This should include a clear set of guidelines to increase the adoption of workplace charging, as well as to encourage the proper use of charging equipment.

A different type of horsepower

EVC will install more than 100 charge points across the Jockey Club’s venues

Meanwhile, EV charging company EVC has partnered with the UK’s largest commercial horse racing organisation, the Jockey Club, to provide bespoke EV charging solutions at each of its 14 locations.

EVC, which operates a nationwide charging network in the UK, will install more than 100 charge points – offering between 22 and 150kW – across the Jockey Club’s venues.

The first installations have taken place at Epsom Downs, Haydock Park, Exeter and Newmarket Rowley Mile, with the remainder to be completed by the end of this year.

“At the Jockey Club, sustainability goes hand-in-hand with our mission to safeguard the legacy of our historic racecourses and this is a significant step on our journey,” says Kirstin McEvoy, sustainability manager at the Jockey Club. “Horseracing is a sport with so much heritage – and our partnership with EVC underscores our commitment to seeking out innovations that will enable us to future-proof our racecourses and deliver on our net zero ambitions.”