High mileage fleet charging trial to begin in London

A new project is set to begin which will develop and trial electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for high mileage fleets in London. 

The project is a collaboration between Cenex, C40 Cities and Greater London Authority (GLA), as part of a global initiative led by C40 Cities and Uber.

The project aims to increase charging access for over 55,000 drivers in London, Boston, and Phoenix through three charging pilots, and is a 24-month pilot that started in June and will conclude in February 2027.

The pilots will investigate how electric vehicle infrastructure can be shared among various operators, including taxi drivers, delivery fleets, and essential service providers.

Cenex has pledged to identify and engage stakeholders across public and private sectors to participate in charging pilots, design and evaluate three pilots, develop guidance and best practice models to inform the long-term strategies of the GLA, Uber, and C40 Cities, and support international learning by sharing insights with other cities facing similar EV infrastructure challenges.

The project revolves around addressing the issue of high mileage vehicle-specific problems, which is all the more critical in high-density urban areas where cost and accessibility complicate reliance on public charging network as many drivers do not have access to home charging.

Juliette Kariuki-Cobbett, project lead, Cenex, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this project in London, working closely with the GLA and as part of the C40 Cities and Uber initiative. This project will explore the opportunities, challenges, and best practices for the shared use of electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EVCI) for high mileage vehicle (HMV) fleets in London, including supporting the set up of three pilots and monitoring their success. Facilitating the sharing of existing charging assets will be a key step in accelerating the electrification of high-mileage fleets, demonstrating a scalable solution for London and other global cities.”

Mark Watts, executive director at C40, said: “C40 is proud to be working with Uber to support London in ramping up access to charging services for high-mileage vehicles. Ensuring that charging infrastructure is accessible means people living in cities can reap the benefits in terms of cleaner air and quieter streets, while making it easier for the highest-mileage drivers to switch to electric which will make a significant contribution to cutting carbon emissions in our cities.”

Sadiq Khan, mayor of London and co-chair of C40 Cities, said: “In London, we want to bring everyone along on the journey to clean our air and encourage sustainable travel. Whether it’s our emergency services, taxis, private hire, delivery vans, or any of the other essential transport moving through the city daily, we know that increasing the number of zero emission vehicles will result in cleaner air and fewer emissions. Projects like this, which offers quicker and easier charging, will help more drivers make the switch to electric vehicles, as we build a fairer, greener London for everyone.”