AFP virtual depot app for shared EV charging facilities nears launch

An online platform that allows fleets to share their electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities with other businesses is being launched by the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP).

The new app’s pending launch was confirmed by AFP chair, Paul Hollick, at the fleet trade and training body’s annual conference yesterday (Wednesday, March 7).

The AFP announced in September, 2024, it was planning an online platform that allowed fleets to share their electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities with other businesses. 

The move followed extensive work by the organisation’s shared charging committee, which was launched at the start of 2024 and includes the AA, Alliance Healthcare, Auditel, IFC Group, National Grid and Royal Mail.

Hollick (pictured below) admitted he wasn’t immediately convinced by the concept, but he was persuaded by members “it was the right thing to do”.

Following a tender process, the AFP selected a start-up called Evata, which has been developing the app that will be white-labelled and allow members to upload spare charging infrastructure on to the database, which can then be booked out by other members.

“We are hoping that it will be a service that will be massively used,” said Hollick. “It definitely is something that members have asked for.”

Previously, the AFP’s EV committee had reported that charging would need to be priced at a maximum of 40 pence per kWh in order to make shared charging viable. No details about potential costs were outlined at the AFP conference.

AFP membership soars

The announcement came at the AFP revealed it has seen a record rise in membership for the organisation over the past year, with numbers increasing by 28%.

Describing the increase as “awesome”, Hollick, said: “We’re at 1,737 members, which is a credit to everybody getting behind this organisation.”

The trade and training body also increased its income from £297,000 to £338,000 in the past year.

Hollick told delegates: “We’re a not for profit (organisation), so we spend everything we have... we reinvest everything that we receive back into everything we do.”

Hollick added that profits for the AFP were just over £100, while its reserves currently stand at £113,000.

Paying tribute to the AFP’s success given a relatively small team, he said: “We try and do as much good as we possibly can.”

A key offering for the trade body is the AFP’s training courses, which have been improved and their range expanded. 

“Ronnie Gillman, our training manager and the team have constantly been tweaking and improving our course designs,” said Hollick.

“Last year we did 530 training days for the industry. This year, we’ve already done/got booked 576 and we will be close to breaking 600 this year.”

It also hosted its second Expo and is continuing to do a lot of networking events and lunches.

Hollick said: “This is really important for us to try and connect to fleet professionals together, fleet managers in particular, and we continue to do our lunches and dinners, particularly around industry events.”

He confirmed that the AFP is also setting up a fleet apprenticeship in the UK. “We're continuing to support our members on all their key topics,” he said.

“There’s no doubt that the decarbonisation of fleets is our generation’s main challenge. Everybody in the room has a role to play with it.

“We cannot leave it for the next generation. So, whatever we can do to support our members and industry to decarbonise their fleets is probably the biggest thing that gets me out of bed in the morning.”