TL;DR
A cheaper EV charge is rarely worth the lost time. For fleets, productivity usually matters more than electricity price.
Why is time away from the job rarely worth a cheaper EV charge for fleets?
Time away from the job is rarely worth a cheaper EV charge because even small delays quickly cost more than the electricity savings. For commercial fleets, driver time and vehicle downtime usually outweigh differences in pence per kilowatt-hour.
Paua provides this insight to all our fleets. And then provides the tools to deliver on this.
Why cheap electricity can be misleading for fleets
Electricity price is visible and easy to compare. Time cost is not. Detours, waiting for chargers, slow charging speeds and overstays all take vehicles away from productive work.
A charge that looks cheap on paper can be expensive once time is accounted for. This is particularly true for vans and trucks operating to schedules or service windows.
A simple example: time versus electricity price
- Assume a commercial driver costs £15 per hour fully loaded. That is 25p per minute.
- A one mile detour or delay typically takes 2 to 3 minutes, costing 50 to 75p in driver time.
- A typical commercial vehicle uses around 0.4 kWh per mile. To offset that time cost, electricity would need to be £1.25 to £1.88 per kWh cheaper.
- That saving does not exist in the real world.
Why this matters more as fleets scale
As fleet size increases, small inefficiencies multiply. What looks insignificant per vehicle becomes material across dozens or hundreds of vehicles.
Chasing cheap electricity often increases operational cost rather than reducing it.
How successful fleets make better decisions
Well run fleets prioritise keeping vehicles moving. They choose charging options that minimise disruption to routes and schedules, even if the electricity costs slightly more.
Time saved is often the biggest source of value in an electric fleet.
Frequently asked questions
Is public charging always more expensive?
Not when time and productivity are considered. Public charging often reduces downtime.
Should fleets ignore electricity price completely?
No. Price matters, but it should be evaluated alongside time and utilisation.
Does this apply to cars as well as vans?
Yes, but commercial vehicles feel the impact first.
How Paua helps
Paua helps fleets choose charging options based on time efficiency, not just price. By simplifying how drivers find, charge and pay, and by providing visibility into dwell time, fleets can avoid false savings and protect productivity.
Related reading
- Why EV charging time matters more than cost for commercial fleets
- Why EV refuelling now happens in three locations for fleets
- Why every EV charge has three steps: find, charge and pay
- Why electric fleets need two charging strategies
About Paua
Paua is a UK EV charging payment platform for fleets. We help businesses pay for electric vehicle charging across public networks, home charging and shared depots, giving fleet managers control over time, cost and data as they electrify.
Want to discover more? Book a call with Paua
