Our Ensto Chago charging point means the Fleet World office is equipped for plug-in vehicles.

Workplace charging is a vital ingredient for businesses chasing genuine environmental performance. A U.S. study last year, of 4,000 Nissan LEAFs and 1,800 Chevrolet Volts, showed drivers were able to average almost 25% more miles annually if they had the ability to plug in while at the office. So, whether it enables more people to switch, or plugin hybrid drivers to use liquid fuel less often, topping up at work makes a big difference.

Our unit is part of Ensto’s Chago range, finished in the trademark weatherproof stainless steel that’s made the company’s charging points popular with high-end installations at business and residential properties in recent years. It’s a wall-mounted unit offering up to three-phase, 22kw, charging, though pedestal versions are also available.

As this is outdoors, and unattended overnight, we’ve got the reassurance that it’s also tamperproof. The charging ports – Type 2 AC and a three-pin socket – are behind an electronically locked cover accessed via an RFID-enabled keyfob, and only the person who’s charging can re-open it. There’s also a simple three-colour LED status light at the top, showing when it’s ready, charging or faulty.

Because of the tags, we’re also able to track usage. There’s a built-in SIM card uploading data which can be accessed remotely, so we can see who’s using it and how much energy they’ve drawn down. This should mean we’ve got plenty of information to report as our plug-in fleet grows over the coming months.