Fleets should consider gathering evidence to support the introduction of a third advisory electricity rate (AER) for fleet use of rapid chargers, FleetCheck is suggesting.
Peter Golding, CEO at the fleet software specialist, explained that while the new two-level AER rates were a very welcome development, fleet access to the fastest charging was often essential in an operational sense.
“We’re very pleased to see split AERs introduced and the rate of eight pence per mile for home charging seems fair to us, being generally reflective of real-world costs.
“However, the 14p rate for highway charging is arguably low. It might just cover use of some slower public chargers but there are instances when rapid charging is necessary from an operational point of view and the cost is typically much higher, perhaps doubling.
“That’s why there is an argument for a three tier AER rate. Public charging infrastructure is not homogenous – there are widely different charging speeds and prices – and this should be recognised in HMRC’s thinking.”
Central to this point was recognition that rapid charging made fleet use of EVs practical in many applications, he said.
“When electric cars and vans are used for longer journeys, employers don’t want to have staff sitting around waiting for slower charging to complete. For them, rapid chargers are really a necessity that mean they can get workers back on the road as soon as possible. Without rapid charging, the practicalities of operating EVs are less attractive. This is why a rapid charge AER rate should be considered, especially as we see faster and faster chargers become more and more common across the public charging network.
“Fleets could help to make this happen by gathering evidence to show the real-world costs their employees are paying in these instances – something that can be done using fleet management software. From experience with the two-tier rate, it is clear that bringing about this kind of change requires data and takes time.”
