A major fleet operator’s move to electric buses revealed serious charging challenges, until emPACT delivered the control and insight needed to scale with confidence
Introduction
Transport is a big part of global carbon emissions, and most of that comes from road vehicles. As electric fleets grow across the UK, reliable and efficient charging is more important than ever. The UK now has over 73,000 public chargers, and the government is aiming for 300,000 by 2030 with strict targets like 99% uptime for public chargers.
To keep up, fleet operators need charging systems that are smart, cost-effective, and easy to manage.
One major fleet operator started switching from diesel to electric buses. But they quickly ran into problems:
- The depot’s power supply couldn’t handle charging all buses at once.
- Charging at the wrong times led to high electricity bills.
- Some buses weren’t fully charged by morning, risking service delays.
- Planning when and how to charge each bus became too complex.
- There was no way to track charger performance or spot problems quickly.
The operator needed a better way to manage charging, one that could:
- Work within their current power limits
- Cut energy costs
- Ensure all buses were charged and ready each morning
- Make the process easier to control and monitor
- Spot and fix issues fast
Here emPACT comes into action!
emPACT ran a pilot project to show how smart charging could solve these issues. Key features included:
- Smarter timing: Charging was shifted to cheaper, off-peak hours to avoid high energy costs.
- Charging by need: Buses that needed more charge or had longer routes were prioritized.
- Live dashboard: Managers could see every charger and bus status in real-time.
- Automatic alerts: Any issues were flagged immediately for quick fixes.
- Remote control: Charging could be started, stopped, or adjusted from a computer.
The results?
The pilot showed strong improvements:
- No need for expensive power upgrades: charging stayed within the depot’s limits.
- Energy bills dropped by 25% thanks to smarter scheduling.
- 99.8% of buses were fully charged on time, every day.
- Better charger use and longer battery life, thanks to smart planning.
- More insight and control, helping with day-to-day management and future plans.
Conclusion
emPACT made it easier to run an electric fleet, saving money, improving reliability, and reducing stress.
As more fleets go electric, having the right tools in place will be key to staying ahead. emPACT helps operators take control of their charging, meet regulations, and grow with confidence.
Contact our sales team to know more at sales@electricmiles.com