Charging Infrastructure: Depot, Public, and Home Solutions (Continued)
Another practical issue is that many public charging sites are designed for private cars, not commercial vans or trucks. Fleet drivers have found that parking large vans at some public chargers is problematic , bays might be too small or difficult to access with a long wheelbase vehicle. One study noted sites that “may not have space suitable for large vans,” leading some fleet users to detour to truck stops or motorway service stations that better accommodate bigger vehicles. This is prompting calls for new fleet-oriented charging hubs with pull-through bays and extra room for delivery vans, minibuses, and lorries. By 2030, we expect to see many more such hubs (some possibly built by forward-thinking local authorities or consortiums of businesses), but fleet operators should advocate now for charging infrastructure that meets their needs. Encouragingly, charge point operators are seeking input
on optimal locations, and this is where early-moving fleets can gain an edge . Right now, CPOs are actively looking for anchor customers when planning new charging hubs , meaning a fleet that commits usage can influence where infrastructure gets built (e.g. near their depot or along their routes) [44] . Forward-thinking fleets are partnering with charging providers in this way, essentially co-locating infrastructure to ensure operational coverage. They are also negotiating fleet-specific charging contracts. As Alice Aprile-Smith of Source EV notes, early-planning fleets are securing better commercial deals on public charging, including volume-based discounts and fixed-rate agreements, that may not be available later as the market matures [45] . This window for favorable terms won’t last forever; as EV adoption accelerates, the negotiating power will shift toward the charging providers and prime locations will be snapped up [46] . Fleets that engage in the next 1–2 years can lock in advantageous charging rates and help shape the public network to their benefit. The cost of public charging is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the ability to rapidly refuel an EV in 20–40 minutes (with a high-power DC charger) is a game-changer for keeping vehicles on the move. On the other hand, public rapid charging is significantly more expensive per unit of energy than depot or home charging. Commercial fast charging providers not only charge a premium for the convenience but also must apply 20% VAT (whereas electricity used at home or depot incurs only 5% VAT). This tax discrepancy alone adds around 5-10 pence per kWh to public charging costs. It’s no surprise that 85% of EV drivers believe public charging is too costly at present [49] . Fleet managers worry that if their drivers rely
Charging Costs by Location (£) Charging Costs by Location
0.8
0.75
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.45
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.14
0.1
0
Depot / Home
Public AC
Public Rapid DC
10
Electrifying UK Fleet Operations: Challenges, Strategies, and the 2035 Deadline
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