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Centrica has revealed plans to pilot a “charge park” in early 2020 which will see the creation of a more convenient location to charge commercial electric vehicle (EV) fleets.
The scheme will combine leisure services such as cafes and gyms alongside technology to make charging less onerous for professional drivers.
A company spokesperson told Utility Week that the location of the charge park had not yet been decided and that its team was looking at a number of sites, from inner city parking sites to major transport hubs where EV taxis can charge while waiting for fares.
Andreas Atkins, head of electric vehicle strategy for Centrica Innovations, said: “One of the big barriers we need to overcome in terms of adoption is how professional drivers can make time in their day to charge.
“While there has been a great deal of research in to how to make charging faster, little has been done to enhance convenience, so that charging can fit comfortably in to our busy lives.”
Jonathan Scott, chief executive of NCP, said: “Mechanisms such as the congestion charge and Ultra Low Emissions zones are drivers for the adoption of electric fleets.
“We are investing to grow the number of our sites offering EV charging, but we want to do so in a way that’s fit for purpose for all of our customers.”
In January this year the British Gas owner announced the creation of a dedicated team for developing electric vehicle (EV) charging services called Mobility Ventures.
The unit will work with the rest of the business to create deals that combine energy supply and charging tariffs, alongside other services such as optimisation and software applications.
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