What are the options for EV fleet charging?

Discover the ideal charging ecosystem for your operation

Whether you’re on the road to replacing small or large sections of your fleet with electric cars or e-LCVs, it can feel like chicken and egg when you’re looking at vehicle choices versus when and where they might be able to recharge.

Choosing petrol and diesel vehicles can be easy for fleet and operations managers. However, with range, battery capacity and a whole host of considerations around charging to factor in when considering your electric options, it often requires a team effort to establish suitable solutions for your business. 

We recognise there is no one-size-fits-all infrastructure for fleets or even for your specific operation, which may need mini-ecosystems within your chosen network. So, we felt it might be useful to give you a snapshot of the types of charging that might be ideal for different elements of your fleet.

This guide has been developed in response to:

• our recent survey of fleet managers and drivers

• the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA) Charging Guide, which highlights several types of EV fleet use cases as a result of their extensive interviews with their members and customers

• the Transport Secretary’s Taking Charge: the electric vehicle charging infrastructure strategy.

Understanding the concerns of fleet managers and drivers

Our fleet survey, conducted in February 2022, found that a lack of infrastructure to support EVs was a concern for fifty-seven per cent of fleet managers, with a lack of driver confidence being a perceived challenge for thirty-four per cent of the managers we spoke to. Exactly half of the two hundred and fifty-strong sample had already introduced EVs into their fleet. Twenty-four per cent of the five hundred drivers we interviewed were operating fully electric or plug-in hybrid cars. 

When asked, drivers had numerous concerns around charging their existing or future electric vehicles. For example, that looking for chargers might slow them down or they would be unable to charge at home. Twenty-six per cent were worried that running an electric car or van might prevent them from doing their job properly. Our guide to charging an electric company car (or van) is designed to ease some of your drivers’ concerns around charging.

Charging should be easier, cheaper and more convenient than refuelling a petrol or diesel vehicle

In the Taking Charge: the electric vehicle charging infrastructure strategy – the Transport Secretary states, “Ultimately, charging your EV should be easier, cheaper and more convenient than refuelling a petrol or diesel car, wherever you live”. In response to this, bp pulse alone intends to invest £1 billion in electric vehicle charging in the UK, supercharging the roll-out of fast, convenient charging across the country. 

The investment will allow us to deliver more rapid and ultra-fast chargers in key locations, expand fleet products and services and launch new home charge digital products and services to enhance the customer experience. In March 2022, Richard Bartlett, senior vice president, bp pulse said:

“This £1 billion investment is vital to provide the charging infrastructure the UK needs. We’re investing to build a world-class network. This investment allows us to deliver more. More high-speed charging in dedicated hubs and on existing fuel and convenience sites. More home charging services. And crucial enhancements to our digital technology that will make charging fast, easy and reliable.”

The response from Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, was:

"I am delighted that bp pulse is supporting the transition to cleaner vehicles as we accelerate towards our net-zero ambitions. Convenient, reliable and affordable charging is key to our green revolution and this investment from bp will make it easier for drivers up and down the country to go electric. This step comes alongside the Government's publication of its landmark EV Infrastructure Strategy, showcasing the huge commitment of both the public and private sector in the nationwide switch to electric vehicles.” 

The government is also currently developing a £950 million fund to futureproof electrical capacity at motorway and major A-road service areas for the installation of EV infrastructure.

Three simple categories of charging for electric cars and vans

Understanding the charging options available to you and what might be the best and most futureproofed charging ecosystem for your fleet may help you make clearer decisions around your EV and/or e-LCV transition strategy.

At this stage, it is important to point out that electric vehicle manufacturers recommend only charging batteries to 80% capacity to protect their health and give them a longer life. Once charging hits this point, a limiter will usually kick in and the charging speed will slow down significantly. Charging to 80% means that workplace and home charging times may be less than you imagine and a top-up to 80% from 20% may be sufficient for drivers while they are on the road, depending on their schedule.

We’ve broken down the types of charging into three simple categories in the order of priority the fleet managers in our survey gave us, providing a guide to each in the following section:

1. Workplace or depot charging

2. Public charging

3. Home charging

1. Workplace/depot charging

With eighty-one per cent of the fleet managers we interviewed stating they do or would need workplace or depot charging for their EV or e-LCV fleet, this section is designed to give you an idea of:

• the types of fleets workplace or depot charging is suitable for

• suitable types of chargers

• the government support available to you

• how you could offset your financial outlay with a charging tariff and selling electricity back to the grid

• benefit-in-kind requirements for your employees

Ideal for:

Company cars: company EV drivers that commute to work or travel between different company premises, for example, area managers.

Depot-based delivery service, engineer or work vehicles: electric car or LCV delivery, field services or logistics drivers who return to base overnight or for other extended periods.

Workplace or depot-based passenger services: electric cars, MPVs or taxis used for transporting people that return to base for extended periods.

Fast-charging at a steady 7kW or 22kW rate: Charging from 0-80% at 7kW can take 4-6 hours on average for electric cars, MPVs and small vans and 5-7 hours for larger vans*. This steady rate allows drivers to recharge their batteries while their vehicle is not in use, either during the day or overnight while on your premises or after returning to your depot.

Some charge points can deliver between 11kW-22kW through a three-phase connection, which would speed up charging times to 1-2 hours. This may be more suitable for drivers who come to the workplace or return to base for shorter periods of time.

Having access to these fast EV chargers either at work or home is better for battery health in the long-run than relying solely on rapid or ultra-fast chargers.

You will generally need to establish whether your existing parking bays are wide enough to facilitate a charging point and two vehicles charging either side at any one time.

* Charging times are subject to power available at the location where the vehicle will be charged as well as factors such as temperature and cable type used

You may be eligible to claim up to £14k with the OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme grant

According to the Taking Charge strategy, since 2016, the Workplace Charging Scheme has funded more than 22,000 charging pointinstallations.

Eligible businesses can claim up to £14,000 (or £350 per socket) for up to forty sockets if they are installed on your work premises. If you are planning to slowly roll out your charging ecosystem, the Office for Zero Emissions (OZEV) Workplace Charging Scheme grant will allow you to apply more slowly for each phase until you reach your limit of forty.

An experienced partner like bp pulse will help you conduct the relevant feasibility studies and surveys and apply for the grant on your behalf. We even offer a complimentary survey to get the ball rolling. As part of your survey process, our team can speak to your local energy provider to establish any additional capacity you may need.

Your partner should also be able to help you to explore the most efficient ways of powering your charging facilities. For example, you may wish to consider generating your own energy through wind or solar technology or making sure you are only using renewable energy to power your chargers.

Tariffs and Vehicle to Grid (V2G) reimbursements

Generally, you'll wish for the cost of any workplace or depot charging for your drivers to sit within your business. However, when it comes to visitors or the public, our team can help you set a charging tariff and provide the software to help you manage the finances within your scheme.

This is a great way to claw back some of your charging ecosystem outlay. What’s more, you could set up a Vehicle to Grid arrangement where you are reimbursed for any electricity your drivers do not use and pump back into the grid.

Workplace charging and benefit-in-kind

Where you install EV chargers at your depot or workplace or on your premises nearby to where your people work, your drivers won’t be charged benefit-in-kind-taxation (BIK) on any energy used to charge their electric car or van. That's whether it’s for business or private mileage.

If these workplace chargers are made available for all staff to use, any energy use by your employees with privately owned electric cars or vans or those leased through salary sacrifice, regardless of whether it is for work or leisure travel, will also be exempt from BIK.

2. Public charging

Fifty-four per cent of the fleet managers we spoke to told us their electric car and/or van fleet would rely on the public charging network. This part of our guide will give you an idea of:

• the types of fleet public charging is suitable for

• how to weigh up your public charging options

• different ways to pay

• benefit-in-kind requirements for your employees

• how you can get involved in evolving on-street charging.

Ideal for:

Company cars and passenger vehicles: electric company car or MPV drivers who travel long and short distances to visit or transport staff, colleagues, clients or customers.

Delivery services: electric car or LCV drivers that travel around 100 miles per day with multiple calling points and different routes every day ..

Engineer or work vehicles: electric car or LCV drivers that travel 60-100 miles per day with significant range and journey variation in their daily shift.

Private hire and ride-hailing services: electric minicabs, MPVs or taxis that travel 80-160 miles per day with limited downtime.

Weighing up your public charging options

Depending on your fleet’s needs and habits, there is now a wide range of solutions to evaluate when it comes to where to charge your electric fleet cars and e-LCVs across the public network.

bp pulse currently operates one of the largest public charging network. Part of our £1 billion investment will allow us to triple the number of public charging points to approximately 24,000. We also plan to accelerate the roll out of state-of-the-art 300kW and 150kW ultra-fast charging points that are capable of charging up to 100 miles of range in around 15 minutes depending on the vehicle, its charge management software, its battery, the weather and driving conditions..

We also plan to improve the reliability of our existing network through planned upgrades to our charging technology.

ZapMap figures in January 2022 showed more than 24,000 public charging stations across the UK, with around 700 being added each month. With the government pledging a £950 million rapid charging fund, this, and private investment from businesses like bp pulse will see this monthly number grow significantly over the next five to ten years.

Destination, forecourt and motorway service charging stations

Where your drivers have the need to stay overnight in hotels or where a schedule allows time to stop at supermarkets, restaurants, shopping centres or public car parks, you may wish to include these destination charging stations in your ecosystem. Particularly those that offer charging at reasonable rates.

Where fuel forecourts or motorway services offer rapid 50kWh or ultra-fast 150-300kWh charging, you may find it beneficial to include topping-up at these points in your planning.

If you feel rapid and ultra-fast charging would most benefit your fleet, it’s important to factor this into your vehicle replacement considerations. This is to make sure that the EV or e-LCV you’re considering has the capacity for this type of charging.

Payment at public charging stations

In the Taking Charge strategy, the Transport Secretary states that all public charging must be set up to accept contactlesspayments. For example, it is possible to use your bank card, Apple Pay or Google Pay to start, pay for and stop a session on bp pulse50 and bp pulse150 chargers.

Many EV chargers can be accessed using smartphone apps, for example the bp pulse app. We also offer two different subscriptions, the bp pulse on the go - Corporate card costs just £6.54 per driver per month and provides access to best rate or free of charge tariffs.

If your fleet includes hybrid, petrol and diesel vehicles, you may find our Fuel & Charge card a better option for your drivers.

With either of our charging cards, your business may be eligible to use our innovative new Fleet EV charging hubs. These are designed to offer comfort and convenient rapid charging for your drivers.

Public charging and benefit-in-kind

Where your business pays for public charging in association with your drivers’ electric company fleet vehicles, your drivers will not be liable for any BIK.

Only electric grey fleet vehicles used for business and/or personal use are subject to benefit-in-kind taxation.

More on-street charging facilities are needed

In comparison to the 22,000 charging points that have been funded through the Workplace Charging Scheme, only 2,038 on-street chargers have been installed through the On-street Residential Charging Scheme, with a further 4,539 planned in 2021-22.

Paul Hollick, chair of the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP), stated the following to Fleet News in early 2022:

“To our minds, the issue of kerbside charging trumps everything else. Adequate kerbside charging is vital to the corporate fleet sector being able to achieve its 2030 electrification objectives, but many are hitting significant problems with those employees that do not have a home charging solution”.

In fact, 30-40% of homeowners in the UK do not currently have access to off-street parking, which means having on-street options is an important part of the infrastructure. Our team of experts at bp pulse is in a position to support our customers by highlighting where on-street facilities are needed for drivers that do not have access to off-street parking at home.

A bp pulse spokesperson stated:

“We are working closely with local authorities across the UK to help them secure government funding so that the on-street charging infrastructure can grow to meet demand as more drivers switch to electric cars and vans.

Part of our work with councils involves looking at the best spots for on-street charging facilities. The more we can understand about where our corporate customers have a need, we can factor this into our research and recommendations to local authorities and within the on-street grant applications we’re assisting them with.”

3. Home charging

Fifty-two per cent of the fleet managers in our survey said they are planning to include home charging in their drivers’ charging ecosystem. This part of our guide will give you an idea of:

• the types of fleet home charging is suitable for

• ways to reduce home charging expenses

• the government support available to your employees and business

• benefit-in-kind requirements for your employees.

Ideal for:

Company cars: electric company car drivers who use their vehicles during the day and take them home overnight.

Delivery services (distributed locations): electric car or LCV drivers who deliver purchased goods to homes or businesses and take their vehicles home at night.

Non-depot-based engineer or work vehicles: electric car or LCV drivers who work in maintenance, construction, utilities etc who return home at the end of a day or night shift.

Private hire and ride-hailing services: electric minicabs, MPVs or taxis that return home after a day or night shift.

Taking advantage of overnight tariffs

In the same way that workplace or depot charging can take place overnight, this is generally a good time for electric company car, van or taxi drivers to charge if they take their vehicles home as overnight electricity tariffs tend to be the most cost-effective ones.

Where drivers are home for extended periods at the end of shifts at different times of the day, 7kW home charging is still a steady way to recharge batteries back to 80% ready for the next journey or shift.

Home Vehicle to Grid (V2G) schemes

As with workplace charging, your drivers can join a V2G scheme where they’ll be paid in exchange for any unused electricity they give back to the grid.

Your employees or your business may be able to claim up to £350 per home charging point installed in flat or rental property off-street parking.

While the OZEV Electric Vehicle Homecharge grant ended in March 2022 for homeowners who live in single-unit housing, up to £350 per home EV charging station is still available for flat owners and people who rent either a house or a flat and have access to off-street parking.

The government has funded more than 277,000 home charger installations through this scheme and its predecessor the Domestic Recharge Scheme (DRS).