By opening their chargers to the public, heavy duty fleet operators can reduce the financial burden of their charging infrastructure while generating alternative revenue streams. Simultaneously, the industry benefits from a greater number of HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle)-accessible public charging points.
The European electric truck market is expected to grow to 400,000 registrations per year by 2030, up from the current 4,000 units. Additionally, the UK is expected to ban the sale of diesel trucks by 2040.
One significant concern for heavy duty fleet operators is the increased cost of electric trucks, which are estimated to be up to three times that of their diesel counterparts. Moreover, the cost of ultra-rapid EV chargers, required for their larger batteries, is a growing concern.
The speed of a charger is directly related to its cost, as more power modules – one of the costliest components of a DC charger – are required for faster charging speeds. The scarcity of publicly-accessible charging points is another challenge. To address these issues, Vital EV and Spirii have collaborated to offer a solution that allows fleet and network operators to monetize their charging points while also contributing to the expansion of the charging infrastructure.
Alex Rae, Managing Director of Vital EV, states: “As a specialist in EV charging infrastructure, Vital EV is proactively developing solutions to mitigate the challenges of electrifying the truck industry. We are proud to work with a globally renowned software company on this exciting project, which reduces financial burdens for fleet owners and increases the number of publicly accessible chargers for electric heavy duty vehicles.”
Tore Harritshøj, CEO of Spirii, shares his enthusiasm about the partnership and its potential to empower more heavy duty fleet operators to enhance the charging infrastructure while generating revenue: "Our joint solution enables public access to chargers at strategically selected times, offering flexible pricing options. Considering the high demand, I believe that operators who adopt this approach and open their charging facilities to the public will likely draw a large number of users and, as a result, generate additional income.”