Driven by environmental concerns, government regulations, and economic incentives, the adoption of electric vehicles is on the rise — and commercial fleets are no exception. While large organisations such as Barclays and BT Group have made public commitments to going fully electric by the end of the decade, smaller businesses are also recognising the advantages — with more than 80% of SMEs keen to transition to electric vehicles.
Of course, a shift of this scale demands robust and reliable charging infrastructure to support the growing number of EVs on the road. However, for businesses, reliance on public charge points — often with high tariffs and long queues — isn’t commercially viable. Instead, fleet operators are adopting onsite commercial charging solutions to ensure 24/7 availability and integrated management.
What’s behind the move to electric fleets?
The growing movement towards partly or fully electric commercial fleets is driven by a mix of regulatory, commercial and reputational factors. Most immediately, from a legal perspective, the UK government’s upcoming 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles presents a clear timeline for businesses to transition their fleets. However, that’s not the whole picture. Sustainability goals and corporate social responsibility also play an important role — with many organisations seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship.
There’s also a powerful business case to make the change — as the total cost of ownership of EVs is becoming increasingly competitive with traditional vehicles. Added to this, operating an electric fleet can enhance a company’s brand image and public perception — especially relevant as consumers become more environmentally conscious.
Meeting the future needs of EV fleets
Meeting the charging demands of an electric fleet requires careful consideration of various infrastructure options. While public charging networks offer flexibility for on-the-go charging, they can present challenges regarding availability, cost, and compatibility — as well as logistical difficulties for fleet managers.
Many companies are therefore prioritising on-premise fleet charging solutions, installed at their depot or base of operations, which offers a convenient and cost-effective solution for overnight charging. This allows vehicles to start each day with a full charge and minimises turnaround time between drivers.
Factoring in smart charging and integration with existing fleet management systems is essential here for optimising energy consumption and minimising electricity costs. These systems intelligently manage charging schedules to avoid peak demand periods and leverage off-peak tariffs — further reducing operating costs.
Overcoming barriers to adoption
Despite the numerous advantages, some businesses remain reluctant to adopt electric fleets and commercial EV chargers — although in some cases this is based on outdated information. For example, the upfront costs of charger installation can be substantial — but funding schemes and grants are available to help offset these expenses, such as the UK Government’s EV Infrastructure Grant which can cover charger installation as well as infrastructure upgrades.
In some cases, upgraded connections to the electricity grid may be required — which can be a complex and time-consuming process, and in the past has involved lengthy delays. However, recognising this, NESO, the national energy systems operator, is introducing a new connections process for 2025 that will prioritise projects which are ready to progress rather than by order of application — which is expected to help clear the backlog.
Range anxiety and operational limitations related to charging times and infrastructure availability remain concerns for some fleet operators — but forward-looking manufacturers such as Humax are responding to this with smart commercial charging solutions that integrate EV charging data with existing fleet management systems to allow more efficient operations.
Success stories in commercial charging
Several major UK fleet operators have already transitioned to electric vehicles and integrated charging infrastructure — proving the business case at scale. For example, DPD, a leading parcel delivery company, has made significant investments in its EV fleet and charging network — with the aim of serving 25 of the largest towns and cities in the UK with zero and low-emission delivery vehicles by the end of the year.
Similarly, supermarket giant Tesco continues to grow its electric vehicle fleet for home deliveries — reporting benefits such as reduced fuel costs, lower emissions, and a positive impact on its commitment to be carbon neutral in all operations by 2035. The retailer states that it will deploy chargers at its existing network of stores to keep its fleet powered up and on the road.
Looking ahead — innovations in fleet charging
The future is bright when it comes to commercial EV charging — with numerous innovations coming to market which will strengthen the case for adoption. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which allows EVs to feed energy back into the grid, is rapidly gaining traction — offering the potential to stabilise the grid and generate revenue for fleet operators.
New, higher-capacity battery storage solutions are enabling more efficient charging and energy management on-site, as well as integration with renewable energy sources for further cost savings. Wireless EV charging, although currently in its early stages, has enormous potential to simplify the fleet charging process — removing the need to manually connect and disconnect vehicles during changeovers.
The continued development and integration of these technologies will further accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in UK fleets — and for businesses looking to make the transition in the coming months, working with an experienced and knowledgeable partner is crucial. If you’re looking to get started with commercial or fleet EV charging, speak to Humax to explore our tailored fleet charging solutions — designed around your specific needs and objectives.