First and foremost, protecting the core operation of your fleet is key to successfully opening up chargers to shared usage. To prevent disruption of your vehicle charging, it is best to delimit charger availability for third-party access to set times of day – the most likely option would be from 9am to 5pm thus maintaining exclusive access for your own fleet to recharge overnight. Whatever duty cycle you have, you can customise the access times to suit your requirements first.  

Although manual methods of booking and granting access may be necessary in the early stages, for shared charging to become a seamless part of your fleet operations it’s advisable to investigate software solutions available. We have spoken to providers such as Flexible Power Systems, Optimo, and Syselek who all offer booking and charger management systems, as well as more advanced offerings in the shared charging space designed to help fleets decarbonise.  

There is also Paua Share supported by the Department for Transport through Innovate UK. This platform is the first shared depot charging network in the UK and is already working with fleets across the country to help manage their shared charging, including First Bus who have opened their depots to third-party users through their First Charge subsidiary.  

To get started, a simple spreadsheet and fob/RFID activation for the chargers will suffice. However, as the scale grows, signing up to a shared charging network will make the process more seamless, and in the future interoperability between solution providers and booking systems will be crucial. 

Introducing a booking system for shared charging infrastructure can optimise charger use and help avoid schedule conflicts between users.  

With a booking system users can plan their charging sessions in advance. This makes sure they use chargepoints efficiently, especially during peak demand periods. This also allows users to charge at times that fit their needs, reducing downtime and improving operational productivity.  

Many booking systems also include features like notifications and reminders, which encourage users to stick to their scheduled time slots. These minimise delays and improve the efficiency of the shared infrastructure.   

There is currently no single point of access for shared usage of depot chargers across the country used by all fleets, however, the providers mentioned above as well as other companies are working on solutions to facilitate this.  

For example, the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) has announced that it will be launching a platform to allow fleets to share their surplus charging capacity. In the meantime, a manual method of exchanging agreements with a new B2B customer for access to your chargers might be required, or using one of the back-office offerings available such as Flexible Power Systems’ ‘FPS Operate’ to manage bookings and payments.

To make shared charging infrastructure a success, you’ll need to develop a fair and transparent pricing structure with site partners, such as public sector organisations and CPOs. A collaborative approach will help the pricing model meets the needs of all stakeholders.  

Pricing strategies could include:  

• Flat fees for unlimited access.  
• Pay-per-use rates for occasional users.  
• Set tariffs for specific user groups.  
• Variable tariffs that can be adjusted based on demand.   

To improve accessibility, you can set up a way to ‘whitelist’ non-paying users, such as emergency services or essential public service vehicles. For example, NatureScot’s shared chargers have a ‘whitelist’ of authorised vehicles.  

You can also streamline payments by using chargeback solutions, such as fuel cards from providers like Allstar or BP. These tools simplify the billing process, helping users to manage their payments and ensuring operators are paid on time. Chargepoint owners can use chargeback systems to monitor costs by user or department, allowing them to automate billing and reduce admin overheads.   

eHGVs require different approaches to charging than electric passenger cars and vans due to their specific duty cycles and often high rates of vehicle utilisation. Thus, the sharing of data on multiple levels is key to increased efficiency and maximising margins. Syselek offer an enroute dynamic reservation management system that can help fleets by altering the booking for a charging slot in-line with real time journey updates from the vehicle. There is also a need for up-to-date information about charger availability and operation, allowing fleets to plan their usage of your chargers.  

Protecting user privacy is vital when managing data in shared electric vehicle charging systems, particularly under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). To comply, you’ll need robust privacy protocols in place to safeguard personal information. This information includes user identities, charging history, and payment details.  

Measures such as data encryption, secure authentication methods, and regular security audits can help prevent unauthorised access or data breaches. These practices not only protect user privacy but also build trust and transparency between users and operators.  

By meeting GDPR, you’ll support the charging infrastructure to operate responsibly. It also helps you avoid fines and legal complications. 

To make sure your shared charging infrastructure operates reliably you’ll need to develop a maintenance plan.

The plan should include regular inspections, routine maintenance, and timely repairs to keep all charging stations operating at peak efficiency.   

Preventative maintenance helps you identify and address potential issues before they lead to significant disruptions. This minimises downtime and makes sure users can rely on the charging facilities.  

In addition, offering 24/7 customer support means you can promptly resolve user queries and technical issues. With dedicated support staff available around the clock, users can get help with troubleshooting, scheduling conflicts, or payment concerns. This means they can access charging facilities without unnecessary delays. 

Ensuring the safety of your own staff and third-party drivers on-site is another fundamental consideration. Some fleet operators are approaching this challenge by using a document stipulating site requirements that third-party fleets must agree to before a booking can be confirmed. Furthermore, giving site information packs to drivers upon arrival will help to ensure a driver complies with the rules whilst on-site. Finally, using signage and locating chargers in locations away from areas of high traffic can help mitigate any chances of accidents or security issues. 

Organising liability and insurance helps you to mitigate the risk of damage during charging sessions. Adequate insurance coverage protects both users and operators from financial liabilities. This guarantees secure and reliable charging for everyone.