UK initiative helps companies share electric car charging.

A groundbreaking new project has been launched, thanks to the support of the Department for Transport (DfT), aiming to revolutionise how fleet operators share private depot charge points.

Collaborating with partners such as Cenex, Oxfordshire County Council, Suffolk County Council, and various industry stakeholders, electric fleet management company Paua is spearheading the Paua PINS (Private Infrastructure Network Solution) project. This initiative seeks to facilitate depot sharing on a large scale for business fleets.

Through this project, the county councils will provide depot locations that can be shared with others, as well as vehicles that can be charged at these shared sites. Cenex will work closely with fleets and stakeholders to identify barriers and opportunities related to this approach.

The concept of shared electric vehicle charging is gaining momentum as a solution to the challenge of limited infrastructure, which is currently hindering many fleets from transitioning to electric vehicles.

Research conducted by the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) revealed that a significant 62% of fleets are open to cooperative agreements on charging. This not only supports a broader shift towards electrification for operators but also presents an opportunity for fleets to generate additional revenue from their depot EV chargers.

The ultimate goal of the Paua PINS project is to help businesses increase revenue from the chargers they already have installed. Paua will provide a seamless platform for drivers to locate, charge, and pay at shared depot locations. By integrating with the existing Paua public charging network, this project aims to offer businesses a wider range of charging options than ever before.

Niall Riddell, the CEO and co-founder of Paua, emphasised the company’s commitment to innovation in supporting businesses’ transition to electric vehicles. With a track record of aggregating UK public charging and developing technology to facilitate home charging reimbursements, Paua sees depot sharing as a natural progression to meet the needs of fleet professionals.

The Paua PINS project is part of the Transport Decarbonisation Demonstrators programme, funded by the DfT and delivered by Innovate UK. Mike Biddle, executive director for net zero at Innovate UK, highlighted the broader benefits that projects like these can bring in addition to transport decarbonisation, such as improved health outcomes, community building, and reduced congestion.

Supported by a team of expert advisors, the project aims to address both depot access and fleet requirements. Stakeholders involved in the project include the AFP, the Police 7F Commercial Services Programme, East Lothian Council, Nottingham City Council, First Bus, DAF Trucks, SSE Networks, REA, National Grid, DPD, Royal Mail, and depot software specialists EO Charging, Spirii, Hangar 19, and Fuuse.

Businesses interested in this innovative solution are encouraged to reach out to Paua to either share and monetise their infrastructure or access the infrastructure of other project participants. Paua will be hosting a series of public webinars over the next eight months to discuss the project and share preliminary findings. Details for these webinars will be available on Paua.com.