EV Fleet Adoption & Infrastructure Challenges

In this insightful episode of the Insiders Guide to Energy podcast, hosts Chris Sass and Niall Riddell from Paua, talk to Josh Green, Founder and CEO of Inspiration Mobility. Their conversation explores the challenges, advancements, and approaches in electrifying commercial vehicle fleets. Highlighting insights from a leading expert in fleet electrification, the discussion covers the operational, technical, and human factors driving the adoption of EV fleets today.

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Fleet Electrification Is Gaining Momentum

Commercial fleets are increasingly embracing electrification, not just for sustainability reasons but because it now makes financial and operational sense in many cases. Early adopters often begin with "easywins"—vehicles on predictable routes with simple charging needs and supportive drivers. These first conversions help build confidence internally and serve as proof points for broader fleet transformation.

Josh emphasises that no two fleets are the same, referring to each as a“snowflake.” Electrification plans must be customised to vehicle types, duty cycles, geographic locations, driver behaviours, and depot conditions. Successful electrification requires more than new vehicles—it demands full change management, from overcoming driver range anxiety to solving infrastructure challenges.

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Vehicle Types & Market Offerings

The variety of EV models is rapidly expanding, particularly in the light-duty segment. There are now multiple makes and models across a range of price points, battery sizes, and form factors, especially among cargo vans. This expansion allows fleets to swap out a large portion of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles without major disruptions.

However, electrifying medium and heavy-duty vehicles remains more difficult. The challenges are not just about size but also about how these vehicles are used—longer routes, higher payloads, and limited charging downtime make these cases harder to electrify. Additionally, OEMs still need to scale up production and bring down costs in these heavier categories to match demand.

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Charging Infrastructure: A Critical Success Factor

Charging is one of the most important and complicated aspects of EV fleet deployment. Josh outlines a full-spectrum approach to charging solutions:

• Depot Charging: Installing Level 2 chargers at central locations where vehicles park overnight.
• Home Charging: Providing chargers for drivers who take vehicles home.
• Off-site Depots: Partnering with third-party charging hubs when depot charging isn’t feasible.
• PowerUp Points: Building high-speed charging hubs on a customer’s property that can serve both the fleet and other community vehicles, turning infrastructure from a cost centre into a revenue stream.

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The company also offers flexibility in ownership models. Some fleets want to own the infrastructure, others prefer “charging-as-a-service,” where the provider builds, owns, and maintains the system, and the fleet pays based on energy use or a fixed fuel contract.

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Conclusion

The podcast provides a comprehensive look at the evolving ecosystem of commercial EV adoption. The key takeaway is that successful fleet electrification depends on a tailored approach that combines the right vehicles, a supportive operational model, robust charging infrastructure, and buy-in across the organisation—from drivers to finance teams. As the market matures, solutions are becoming more scalable, but thoughtful planning and strategic partnerships remain essential.

Click here for the full episode

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