Unsure where to start when sorting out your van fleet charging? Matt MacConnell has been looking at some of the options.

The UK’s journey to widespread public charging infrastructure continues to progress, but with some bumps in the road.

Currently, there are some 61,232 public charging devices at just shy of 33,000 locations in the UK, according to Zapmap. That’s up 45% in the year since April 2023 but still with some way to go before the Government’s ambition of 300,000 public chargers by 2030 is reached.

There have been some missed targets already too. The Government pledged to install at least six rapid chargers above 50kW in every motorway service area throughout the country by the end of 2023, but fell “well short” of its goal according to research by the RAC at the start of 2024. The rollout was to be funded by the £950m Rapid Charging Fund, which ended up being delayed due to competition concerns and recently went under consultation.

There are some interesting public charging solutions arising along the way though – particularly pertinent for van fleets, where drivers are typically less able to install home charging.

Solar-powered EV car parks are on the rise. Wiltshire Council has debuted a solar car park at Five Rivers Health & Wellbeing Centre in Salisbury featuring a Papilio3 pop-up solar car park from 3ti that can charge up to 12 EVs at 7, 11 or 22kW simultaneously.

Shurgard self-storage and LEAP24 have also joined forces to build 70 ultra-fast charging stations in the UK, with 24 situated in or around London. Each charging point will consist of two parking spaces and a 240kW dual fast charger – potentially able to recharge from empty to 80% in 30 minutes. The charging points will be open 24 hours a day to the public and able to accept all common charging cards.

To fleets that are looking to expand – or those looking to onboard electric LCVs – fleet management remains incredibly important. UK-based software company FPS (Flexible Power Systems) has invested £2.7m into its real-time EV and charger management platform for commercial vehicle fleets.

The platform, FPS Operate, was originally developed for the John Lewis Partnership but has since been expanded to address all fleets. FPS Operate integrates and ‘operationalises’ charge points, vehicles, building energy management and logistics software systems.

“Many fleets are only now getting to grips with significant challenges such as power availability, variable range and increased scheduling complexity that can come with an EV transition,” admits Allan Gray, chief financial officer at FPS.

For companies looking to transition to an EV fleet, it’s easy to get lost in the complexities of EV releases – which battery options to tick, how fast the van can charge, what range can be achieved, etc. However, one obstacle that could arise at the very beginning of the process is the cost of transitioning. Charge point installation and EV tariff comparison company Rightcharge has collaborated with Mercedes-Benz Vans UK to make it easier for fleets to shift. Fleets that purchase Mercedes-Benz eCitan models are eligible for £1,000 towards their charge point and installation costs when organising via Rightcharge.

It’s also important to consider the grants offered to businesses that are considering depot charging.

“Of course, improving public charging infrastructure, as suggested by the recent House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee, alongside charging bays appropriately sized to take vans, would make a difference to overall uptake of electric vehicles,” says Keith Shorter, Europcar van and trucks director.

“While there are currently around 60,000 public charging points across the UK – a 45% increase year-on-year – there is still a long way to go. However, many businesses are already preparing. Just like Europcar has done, with our own infrastructure. While over 60% of our network is now electrified, the big difference will come from businesses investing in charging at their locations. There’s a range of financial support to help companies – especially SMEs – to get chargers installed.  For example, there’s an OZEV SME Grant, known as the EV Infrastructure Grant for Staff and Fleets. For organisations that employ under 250 employees, £850 per charge point can be claimed.”

Shorter adds that charging concerns are still a hurdle to overcome and that it could be wise for businesses to test before making any long-term commitments. This evaluation could be as simple as switching a portion of a fleet to electric – perhaps those being used for journeys most suitable for EVs – or accessing vehicle rentals rather than purchasing. The key is understanding what fleets use their vehicles for and then gradually adapting the fleet to suit business requirements.

Meanwhile, Bradshaw Electric Vehicles offers its Goupil range, an ideal solution for city-based fleets looking to switch to EVs. There are two main vehicle options, the G2 and G4. The G2 has a 596kg payload and is available as a pickup, cage body or box van. It will charge in six hours and provide a range between 27 to 62 miles. The G4 has a 1,142kg payload and there are 11 body options available ranging from pickups to pressure washers. The G4 will charge in 4hr 15min and it has a range between 50 to 101 miles.

When LCV operators are on the day job, stopping for a top-up can be troublesome not only because chargers are limited, but because some charge cards are only accepted in certain stations. This results in the van driver having to pass working chargers and seek one that accepts their card. There are various charge card companies, but which is best? Allstar One, for example, gives operators access to over 13,000 charge points and is accepted at 7,600 fuel stations. Shell Recharge has access to over 23,000 public EV UK charge points and 600,000 across Europe. Making a measured decision can prove difficult.

Octopus Electroverse uses a physical card – and operators can download the app to their mobile. By doing so, they can see which charge stations can be used, what the prices are and what the condition of the charger is like via photographs taken by the public, which are then uploaded to the platform. Paua, another provider, has access to 70% of all UK rapid chargers and fleet managers also receive a monthly invoice for the entire fleet to claim back VAT. Answering which charge card is best comes down to your fleet, monthly budget and how simple you want managing and invoicing to be.

There are various options for home charging, and companies such as Rightcharge and Ohme will install chargers at fleet operators’ homes. If fleets opt for home charging, it may raise a few eyebrows within the LCV EV operator circle and fleet managers can expect questions such as: “Will I need to use my own electricity? What happens if I leave the business? Will I need to fill in expense sheets all the time?”. All are valid queries.

Ohme’s fleet portal can talk to other software and report it back to the fleet manager and, while the employee will need to use their own electricity, reimbursing will be swift. For fleet managers, they’ll know that employees will start with a full charge and fleet operators will know they can return to their home charger and don’t need to hunt for a public charge point.

Of course, spending £1,000 on a home charger for an employee who may leave in three months may cause concern. To bypass this, many companies have amended contracts to say that any employee with a home charger fitted must stay with the company for six months from installation. If they don’t, the companies then have the right to remove the charger. Of course, this is at the company’s discretion.

Time saved from waiting at public chargers or even finding one in the first place could mean an employee squeezing in an extra job. For the employee, this means an increased house value having an EV charger and it means that the employee does not have to invest in a charger if they buy an EV.

“Charging at home will always be the cheapest option all round,” reasons Peter McDonald, Ohme’s head of mobility. “First, the price per kWh of a typical rapid charging option is, on average, more than double the current domestic standard variable tariff. Second, if the driver knows they can charge at home, they won’t have to hunt for a public charging station, so it adds valuable time to their day. The savings in employee time alone could potentially even be greater than the charging savings.”