There’s no doubt that UK commercial fleets are going electric, with industry publication Fleet News reporting that up to 50% of delivery service fleets, and 75% of retail sector fleets are now composed of EVs. But that brings challenges. While early adopters favoured a depot-charging model, the increasing number of vehicles and complexity of routes means that returning to base to top up isn’t always practical – or even possible. Home charging presents a possible solution – but how suitable is it for fleet use?
What’s Changing in Fleet Operations?
Fleet operations have evolved – the traditional hub model, where vehicles began and ended each journey at a company depot, is becoming less common. Decentralisation of the workforce, with drivers working in a hybrid pattern or exclusively from home, makes depot-based EV charging unrealistic, given the tight delivery and service windows most firms operate within.
Public charging stations offer an “on the go” solution. But they add unpredictability to tight schedules – chargers being out of service, long queues to access a chargepoint and price variability, making it difficult to budget accurately. And compared to traditional refuelling, charging stops during a shift cause significant downtime. What’s needed is a way to separate the charging process from the working day.
Meeting the Demands of Today’s Fleet
Home charging provides the precise benefits that fleet managers need – charging between shifts without lengthy routing back to a depot, avoiding congestion at busy public charge points, and catering to the needs of an increasingly remote workforce.
Operational Flexibility
From a logistics perspective, the obvious advantage of home charging for fleets is that each vehicle starts the day right where it needs to be, with its battery at maximum range. It’s a clear win for fleet managers who are judged on on-time performance and route adherence metrics. Fewer stops or diversions during each shift means more productive hours, more deliveries completed, and fewer delays or service agreement breaches. That translates directly to bottom-line savings.
Cost Efficiency
The kWh rates available for home charging undercut the prices at public chargers by a substantial margin. And with smart home chargers like the Humax MX7, there are further savings to be made by automatically aligning charging periods with dedicated off-peak EV tariffs, which can result in up to 80% lower rates according to moneysavingexpert.com. Compared to traditional fuel vehicles, moving to a home-charged, fully-electric fleet eliminates a range of administrative issues – from misuse of fuel cards to unreliable expense claims and the overheads associated with processing receipts, reconciliations, and reimbursements.
Vehicle Identification
Of course, if fleet owners want employees to use their home chargers for company EVs, they need the correct data to separate work-related and personal charging. That means identifying which vehicle is using the charger at any given time and accurately recording the total charging time and cost. There are a number of solutions on the market to close this data gap, including apps, RFID tags or QR code scans; however, these are open to sharing or misuse.
The most secure solution is power line carrier communication (PLC). This uses the charge cable itself as a data connection for load management and status updates – and an additional benefit is that the charger can identify the specific vehicle plugged in via a unique ID code. This makes it easy to restrict charging to authorised vehicles and differentiate between a personal EV and a fleet vehicle.
Data and Compliance
Reliable vehicle identification data is the key that unlocks the granular reporting that fleet managers and finance teams rely on. Per-vehicle metering provides ready-to-use data for a fully auditable record of kWh and cost per VIN/ID. This makes processes such as VAT recovery and financial reporting much simpler, with modern chargers allowing for direct export to standardised formats used in expenses and payroll software.
Simplicity and Security for Drivers
From the drivers’ point of view, PLC-enabled home charging gives absolute peace of mind that all company use of their home charger is accurately tracked, and there’s no risk they could end up footing the bill. It also frees them from having to manage monthly expenses, keep receipts or print off credit card statements for the finance team.
Easy Implementation and Rollout
Another advantage of home-based fleet charging is that it’s a simpler and more modular solution to adopt and roll out than a depot-based alternative. Companies can start small, piloting the scheme by transitioning a small number of drivers to the new system, allowing them to test the process and iron out any uncertainties before moving the whole fleet to home charging.
Home Charging: The New Default for Fleet Operations?
For fleet managers who need a charging strategy that combines greater flexibility and improved oversight, the maths adds up. Granular tracking, lower cost-per-mile, and less downtime for vehicles and drivers mean a more streamlined, more profitable operation. And the benefits are shared – an easier life for management, more straightforward schedules for employees and ultimately a better service for your firm’s customers. If you’re looking to implement domestic fleet charging, you’ll find more information on the latest PLC-enabled smart charger from Humax – the MX7 – here: https://humaxcharging.com/uk/ev-chargers/home-chargers/mx7/
