The Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) will produce a map showing street-by-street demand for kerbside electric vehicle (EV) charge points early next year.
The trade and training body formed a Kerbside Charging Group last month. It is aiming to collate information gathered on around 160,000 potential and existing EV drivers, with fleets urged to register their interest in joining its kerbside charging initiative.
The AFP says that the resulting map can then be used by national and local government, as well as charging and electricity suppliers, to see where kerbside chargers are most urgently needed.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that the creation of the Kerbside Charging Group has created more interest than any other subject or campaign with which the AFP has become involved,” said AFP chair Paul Hollick.
“Every day we are hearing from fleets, especially van fleets, that want to speed up the electrification of their operations but are being hampered by the problem of charging for drivers who do not have a drive or any other access to a charger.”
The AFP says this is thought to be about 40% of drivers across all fleets but, when it comes to light commercial vehicles (LCVs), it believes the figure to be nearer 70%.
“That means good availability of kerbside charging is essential if van electrification is going to be a success,” added Hollick.
He says that the AFP had been gathering postcode data from organisations including Royal Mail, Centrica, Open Reach, ISS, DEFRA, Kier, Mitie, VM O2, Marston Holdings, Capita, National Grid, SSE, Speedy Hire, J Murphy and Clarion Housing.
“Together, this gives us information on about 160,000 potential and existing EV drivers but we are also keen to hear from other businesses who are not currently AFP members in order to include their information,” he continued.
“Our plan is to be able to create a map early in the New Year that will show on a street-by-street basis where kerbside charging is required. This will be a crucial tool when it comes to making fleet electrification happen faster.”
The AFP is also holding a kerbside charging webinar at 9am on Wednesday, December, 15, with Hollick leading a discussion that will include key members of the Kerbside Charging Group. Anyone who would like to attend can now register through the AFP website.
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