How can smarter EV charging help vehicle fleets?

If your business has begun taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint and started to pursue net-zero status, then they may have started making the switch from petrol and diesel to electric vehicles as part of your fleet.

Whether that’s delivery trucks, vans, or company cars, electric options are available. The biggest logistical issue to overcome is often charging and keeping those vehicles on the road.

So how can smarter charging help?

Explore more

When do you recharge?

Recharging an electric vehicle falls into two categories, overnight and top-up charging. Overnight charging is where a battery has time to recharge fully, ready for the next day. This would be a similar process to a sites existing set-up, where fleets are often fuelled from a tank overnight or early in the morning ready for the day. An 8-hour charge on a basic 22KW charger gives your vehicle over 400 miles – just the same as filling your tank.

Top-up charging is where vehicles plug in to get a bit of charge while the driver is out and about doing something else, for example, going into nearby shops or getting something to eat and drink. Think of this as a quick petrol stop. While this doesn’t fully charge a vehicle, in most cases, it can add range and help eliminate range anxiety.

Depending on your fleet, your vehicles might be better suited to one way of charging or another. For example, sales reps in electric cars might be able to make better use of top-up charging while they’re in meetings or taking a break at a service station. Meanwhile, larger vehicles such as delivery vans would be better suited to longer recharging times overnight at a depot.

Capitalise on existing infrastructure

Making a switch to electric vehicles with a fleet to consider is no easy task. You need to consider how those vehicles are going to recharge, either through chargers kept on your site for vans etc. Or in the event of company cars, more likely vehicles that rely on existing infrastructure.

In those instances, you need to know that the existing infrastructure is dependable and available. EV charging spaces occupied by non-electric vehicles or broken chargers can seriously hamper your logistics and productivity.

Making the most of rapid charging

Rapid charging allows you to get a vehicle back on the road quickly, which is vital for keeping your fleet running and maximising its effectiveness during the day.

By utilising rapid charging, you help staff using electric cars gain more range faster, perfect for covering long miles on a motorway. Delivery vehicles, for example, could be plugged into recharge while being loaded up at a depot, helping to top up battery levels before returning to make deliveries.

Fast, reliable, protected charging spaces

To get the most from your fleet charging, you need access to equipment that is readily available, fast, and reliable.

ParkEV combines a range of powerful chargers in both AC and DC configurations with powerful ANPR technology to ensure that charging bays are protected and reserved for vehicles that need them.

With pioneering chargers backed up by market-leading service and maintenance, we can help create an EV infrastructure that is built to last. Investing in an EV fleet isn’t a small decision, and peace of mind that there’s an infrastructure in place to help support your vehicles, wherever they may be, is a massive benefit to a business.

To find out more about ParkEV or our chargers and how we’re helping UK businesses and motorists access quick and easy-to-use EV charging, click here.