The transition to electric fleets is now an operational reality for many organisations. Yet while electric vehicles (EVs) are ready to go mainstream, the supporting charging infrastructure continues to present challenges. From limited grid capacity to costly depot upgrades, fleet operators attending the Fleet Summit are being forced to rethink how they design, fund, and scale charging solutions…
The Grid Capacity Challenge
One of the most pressing issues is grid availability. Many depots, particularly in urban areas, lack the electrical capacity to support dozens of rapid chargers without significant, and expensive, grid reinforcements. Waiting times for new connections can stretch to months or even years, slowing electrification plans.
To mitigate this, operators are adopting smart load management systems that stagger charging across fleets based on vehicle schedules, battery levels, and energy tariffs. This reduces peak demand, lowers costs, and helps avoid overloading local networks.
Depot Charging Upgrades
Depot charging remains the backbone of most fleet strategies, but upgrading sites is not without its complexities. Space constraints, planning permissions, and capital costs can all be barriers.
Innovative operators are now combining renewable generation with battery storage to ease pressure on the grid. For example, on-site solar arrays paired with battery banks can provide sustainable daytime charging while balancing overnight demand. Meanwhile, modular charging units are enabling depots to scale infrastructure incrementally, adding capacity as EV adoption grows, rather than investing all at once.
Destination and Public Charging Support
Not all fleets return to base. For those with dispersed operations, destination and public charging networks are critical. Partnerships with supermarkets, logistics hubs, and service stations are expanding access to reliable charging away from depots.
Public-private initiatives are also helping. Local authorities are working with fleet operators to co-fund charging infrastructure in shared-use locations, improving availability while spreading costs.
Data-Led Site Planning
Data is playing an increasingly central role in overcoming infrastructure challenges. By analysing telematics data, route patterns, dwell times, and energy consumption, fleet managers can design charging strategies that align with actual operational needs. This prevents over-investment in unnecessary infrastructure while ensuring reliability where it matters most.
A Collaborative Effort
Overcoming EV charging barriers requires collaboration across stakeholders, i.e. fleet operators, landlords, grid operators, technology providers, and government. The most successful organisations are those treating infrastructure not as a hurdle, but as a strategic enabler of long-term resilience and sustainability.
For fleet managers, the message is clear: scaling up charging is possible, but it demands innovation, partnerships, and a proactive, data-driven approach.
Are you searching for EV Charging solutions for your organisation? The Fleet Summit can help!
Photo by John Cameron on Unsplash
