Kasia Chodurek, director of business development, Aegis Energy
Car chargers and large van fleets: Far from a perfect match
By Kasia Chodurek, director of business development, Aegis Energy
On paper, public car chargers and electric vans may seem like a match. Sometimes they are. A small van pulls in, finds a space, plugs in – job done.
But for many operators, the relationship feels like it’s running on fumes.
The UK’s charging network has grown quickly, but much of today’s public infrastructure was built with cars in mind.
As electric vans become more common on UK roads, the cracks in that arrangement are becoming harder to ignore.
It’s getting cramped
Take parking. For long wheelbase vans, squeezing into passenger vehicle spaces can be awkward at best. Drivers end up manoeuvring carefully around tight layouts, or occupying multiple bays just to plug in.
It might seem like a small inconvenience, but for commercial drivers it adds unnecessary stress to an already busy day. Drivers may even risk fines if they use some ‘car-only’ bays, despite being directed to these spaces by apps.
There’s also the question of predictability. For many fleet operators, routes, delivery slots and driver hours need to be substantially mapped out in advance. Yet most public charging infrastructure still operates on a first come, first served basis.
That works for individual motorists who can wait if a charger is busy. It works less well for a driver halfway through a delivery run who needs to be somewhere else within the hour. Without the ability to reliably plan charging stops ahead of time, operators are forced to build in buffers and are less able to predict delivery times.
Lost time equals lost money, and missing deliveries doesn’t just impact your bottom line; it erodes your brand’s reputation. Over a handful of vans, this might be manageable. Across a large fleet, the inefficiencies quickly add up.
The power of predictability
As well as tracking time taken, fleets looking to operate efficiently need to be able to estimate regular charging costs. Current systems are not designed with this in mind, with drivers often unaware of the price until they reach the connection point.
With charging costs varying widely across the country, this makes budgeting for fleet operators especially difficult, reducing their ability to deliver a profitable, efficient service. The new era of public charging must deliver unprecedented quality, at a competitive price.
Time to move on
The encouraging news is that alternatives are emerging.
Across the industry, solutions designed specifically for commercial vehicles are beginning to emerge. At Aegis Energy, we are developing a network of clean, multi-energy charging hubs built around the realities of fleet operations.
Each hub will include bookable charging bays along major logistics corridors that are designed to handle dozens of commercial vehicles simultaneously, with space, power capacity and driver facilities built around the needs of professional operators.
For drivers, the difference is immediate. Charging becomes a routine break rather than an unpredictable stop.
For fleet managers, the benefits are even clearer. Reliable infrastructure reduces downtime, supports route planning and gives operators the confidence to scale their electric fleets quickly and flexibly.
A new start
The early phase of the EV transition was understandably focused on getting chargers on the map as quickly as possible. Now, the next phase is about making sure those chargers work for the vehicles using them.
Car chargers and vans may have managed together so far. But how many charging points in the UK are actually fit for van fleets? As electric fleets grow, it’s becoming clear that commercial vehicles are demanding infrastructure designed with their needs in mind.
Once operators experience the difference, they’ll stop trying to make a relationship that has run its course work and plug into a better connection.
Kasia Chodurek, director of business development, Aegis Energy
Car chargers and large van fleets: far from a perfect match
By Kasia Chodurek, director of business development, Aegis Energy
On paper, public car chargers and electric vans may seem like a match. Sometimes they are. A small van pulls in, finds a space, plugs in – job done.
But for many operators, the relationship feels like it’s running on fumes.
The UK’s charging network has grown quickly, but much of today’s public infrastructure was built with cars in mind.
As electric vans become more common on UK roads, the cracks in that arrangement are becoming harder to ignore.
It’s getting cramped
Take parking. For long wheelbase vans, squeezing into passenger vehicle spaces can be awkward at best. Drivers end up manoeuvring carefully around tight layouts, or occupying multiple bays just to plug in.
It might seem like a small inconvenience, but for commercial drivers it adds unnecessary stress to an already busy day. Drivers may even risk fines if they use some ‘car-only’ bays, despite being directed to these spaces by apps.
There’s also the question of predictability. For many fleet operators, routes, delivery slots and driver hours need to be substantially mapped out in advance. Yet most public charging infrastructure still operates on a first come, first served basis.
That works for individual motorists who can wait if a charger is busy. It works less well for a driver halfway through a delivery run who needs to be somewhere else within the hour. Without the ability to reliably plan charging stops ahead of time, operators are forced to build in buffers and are less able to predict delivery times.
Lost time equals lost money, and missing deliveries doesn’t just impact your bottom line; it erodes your brand’s reputation. Over a handful of vans, this might be manageable. Across a large fleet, the inefficiencies quickly add up.
The power of predictability
As well as tracking time taken, fleets looking to operate efficiently need to be able to estimate regular charging costs. Current systems are not designed with this in mind, with drivers often unaware of the price until they reach the connection point.
With charging costs varying widely across the country, this makes budgeting for fleet operators especially difficult, reducing their ability to deliver a profitable, efficient service. The new era of public charging must deliver unprecedented quality, at a competitive price.
Time to move on
The encouraging news is that alternatives are emerging.
Across the industry, solutions designed specifically for commercial vehicles are beginning to emerge. At Aegis Energy, we are developing a network of clean, multi-energy charging hubs built around the realities of fleet operations.
Each hub will include bookable charging bays along major logistics corridors that are designed to handle dozens of commercial vehicles simultaneously, with space, power capacity and driver facilities built around the needs of professional operators.
For drivers, the difference is immediate. Charging becomes a routine break rather than an unpredictable stop.
For fleet managers, the benefits are even clearer. Reliable infrastructure reduces downtime, supports route planning and gives operators the confidence to scale their electric fleets quickly and flexibly.
A new start
The early phase of the EV transition was understandably focused on getting chargers on the map as quickly as possible. Now, the next phase is about making sure those chargers work for the vehicles using them.
Car chargers and vans may have managed together so far. But how many charging points in the UK are actually fit for van fleets? As electric fleets grow, it’s becoming clear that commercial vehicles are demanding infrastructure designed with their needs in mind.
Once operators experience the difference, they’ll stop trying to make a relationship that has run its course work and plug into a better connection.
