Unrivalled EV testing, workplace charging advice, future electric vehicles - Company Car in Action 2024

Next month’s Company Car in Action not only gives fleet decision-makers the opportunity to make informed choice list decisions by testing more than 200 of the latest electric vehicles as it will also advise them on how to implement workplace charging schemes.

Hundreds of fleet decision-makers have already signed up to the event which will allow them to put more than 200 full electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles through their paces in real-world conditions.

It takes place at Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire, on 12-13 June and fleet managers can also boost their knowledge on workplace charging schemes and understand manufacturer future thinking thanks to informative seminar sessions being held over the two days.

The sessions will cover:

Workplace EV charging infrastructure: This session will offer advice to fleets looking to install workplace charging infrastructure, from the process to the timescales to future proofing advice, as they transition too full electric.

Manufacturer panel discussion: A panel of manufacturer fleet directors will discuss future products, BEV transition and technology developments on a panel session each day hosted by Fleet News editor Stephen Briers.

The workplace charging session on Day 1 (12 June) will be presented by Chris Demetriou, assistant director of corporate fleet & transport at Islington Council.

He will offer insight to fleets early on in their journey and will discuss the importance of installing most appropriate workplace chargers based on the multiple services the council provide as well as some of the unique, and at times, complex challenges it faced during the process.

Demetriou said: “I’m honoured to be sharing my insights of our own fleet electrification journey and associated infrastructure at this year’s Company Car in Action. Our on-site internal charging network is now sitting at approximately 80 electric vehicle charge points with a total of 142 connectors installed across several sites allowing us to comfortably charge our current full battery electric fleet, which is now in excess of 100 vehicles with plenty more to come.

“Alongside these installations, other milestones achieved include the completion of our new high voltage substation upgrade at our main depot which enhances our charger network as well as allowing our other decarbonisation projects to proceed at the site while working with a range of teams across the council to review, plan and optimise the councils power usage for the future, including our micro-grid ambitions.”

The session taking place on 13 June will be presented by Sara Sloman of the EV Café.

She said: “I will be giving a presentation about the trials and tribulations of workplace charging, pulling on my experience with car park owners, landowners, local authorities and charge point operators who are working together to deploy at pace for the varying needs of EV drivers both now and in the future". 

Both days will also see a presentation on workplace charging from seminar sponsors BP Pulse, as well as an audience Q&A.

Manufacturer brands’ fleet representatives will also reveal the future of electric product during panel sessions that takes place from noon on Day 1 and 12.30pm on Day 2.

A total of 34 manufacturer brands have signed up to the fleet test-driving event of the year which will feature a host of exclusive first drives for fleet decision-makers, including the Omoda 5 SUV, the first UK car from the Chery-owned Chinese new entrant and Ford’s electric Explorer. Nissan will unveil its full-electric Interstar van at the event.

And it’s not just cars as visitors also get the first UK drives of US brand Canoo’s futuristic electric van LDV130 and Scottish electric off-road vehicle manufacturer Munro’s electric pick-up truck as part of Vans in Action at the show.