Fleet electrification poses network challenge, solutions exist

The increasing adoption of electric vehicles within commercial fleets presents a growing challenge for network engineers responsible for managing electricity grids. Fleet operators face difficulties securing new grid connections, while grid engineers must accommodate large, synchronised demand sources that can cause rapid spikes when fleets return to their depots. This new class of electricity load does not have to overwhelm local networks, however, as methods exist to maximise the use of existing connection capacity and for fleet operators to manage their demand more effectively.

Managing Demand Spikes

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Unlike public or domestic charging, which tends to average out demand over different times and locations, fleet charging is constrained by operational shift patterns. When multiple vehicles plug in simultaneously, demand spikes significantly, requiring larger grid connections, transformers, and cables. This leads to increased costs for fleet managers, who pay for capacity used only at specific times. The spiky demand profile poses a significant challenge to the wider network, particularly as larger vehicles like buses, eHGVs, and waste collection vehicles are electrified. Unmanaged, these spikes can lead to power quality issues, voltage fluctuations, and force critical grid assets to operate closer to their limits, necessitating reinforcements sooner than the overall energy demand would otherwise justify.

Natasha Fry, chief commercial officer at Mer Fleet Services, stated that larger grid connections for every fleet are not the solution. Instead, creative approaches by charge point operators can optimise the use of existing site capacity. Intelligent energy optimisation offers a smarter method for managing fleet charging. This system uses multiple data sources, including telematics and route tracking, alongside smart charging infrastructure, to dynamically determine when and how quickly each vehicle should charge. By balancing charging across a fleet, it prioritises vehicles needing immediate range and slows charging for those with more time, continuously adjusting to manage the total site load profile and protect the broader network.

The Role of Battery Storage

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Shifting electricity demand has a direct impact on operational costs. Charging during off-peak or lower-cost periods reduces a fleet's energy expenditure, and optimised connections minimise the need for expensive infrastructure upgrades. Battery storage can further enhance these benefits. By storing electricity when it is cheaper or when overall demand is lower, batteries can discharge power during peak charging times, helping to manage demand spikes without drawing additional capacity from the network. This is particularly useful when fleets wish to expand their charging facilities but lack the necessary grid capacity; the battery can absorb the increased demand instead of requiring a larger connection.

Combined, intelligent charging and battery storage provide fleet operators with greater control over their electricity usage. This offers a flexible load that can minimise local grid impacts. Furthermore, this controllability has value beyond the immediate site. Through vehicle-to-grid charging and demand response schemes managed by energy aggregators, fleets can be compensated for providing flexibility to the network, rather than solely consuming electricity. The National Energy System Operator's Future Energy Scenarios report projects that electric vehicles will become the UK's largest source of flexibility by 2050, providing an estimated 51GW of peak response.

Support for Infrastructure Upgrades

Easing demand on constrained networks in the interim depends on how effectively depots can utilise their available electricity. Fleet managers looking to implement smarter charging, battery storage, and energy optimisation can seek support through the Depot Charging Scheme, which is scheduled to reopen in late October. This scheme now covers the costs associated with energy management infrastructure, in addition to charging infrastructure and civils works. This development indicates a growing recognition of the importance of smarter utilisation of existing connections, treated with the same seriousness as the development of new capacity.