'We need a national network of charge points for business vehicles' says fleet manager of the year

The UK needs a fleet charging network to ensure the efficient operation of the increasing volumes of electric vehicles operated by businesses.

Business drivers should be able to make timed appointments at charge points.

The call was made by British Gas head of fleet Steve Winter (pictured with his 2021 Fleet News Award for fleet manager of the year) at the December Fleet200 Executive Club meeting.

The Fleet News Award winner told members: “I don’t want my vans queuing up for a charge point to become available.”

Winter runs a fleet of around 9,500 vans and 1,500 cars.

“There will be a time in the next few, weeks, months or even a year when you turn up at a charge point and there’ll be loads of other vehicles already there,” Winter said. “And instead of the 20 minutes or half an hour you’d need for a rapid charge, you’re probably going to be an  hour just waiting.

“Consider the impact this will have on customer service.”