Episode 20 - Fleet Charging at Scale: Solving the Depot Power Puzzle

Why Fleet Charging Has Become the Next Critical EV Infrastructure Challenge

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The electrification of commercial transport is accelerating, but deploying electric trucks and vans at scale requires far more than replacing diesel vehicles with battery-powered alternatives. Fleet operators must rethink how they manage energy, infrastructure, and daily operations.

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Unlike public charging, fleet charging concentrates large amounts of energy demand in a single location. Depot operators must secure sufficient grid capacity, deploy charging infrastructure, optimize charging schedules, and ensure vehicles are ready for operation every day. As fleets grow, energy management becomes just as important as fleet management.

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In this episode of The Charge Point Podcast, Christophe Lephilibert speaks with Casper Norden, CEO of Decade Energy, and David Watts, Business Development Director at Pelican Engineering, to explore how depot charging is evolving and what fleet operators need to do to prepare for large-scale electrification. Together, they discuss grid constraints, battery storage, charging optimization, and the future of electric truck operations.

What you will learn from this episode

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Fleet electrification introduces new infrastructure and operational challenges that require a different approach than traditional fuel-based fleet management.

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Key learnings

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• Why fleet charging requires long-term infrastructure planning rather than focusing only on the first electric vehicles entering the fleet.
• How depot charging differs from public charging through predictable charging patterns, operational control, and energy optimization opportunities.
• Why grid capacity constraints are becoming one of the biggest barriers to large-scale fleet electrification across Europe.
• How battery energy storage systems (BESS) can help fleet operators reduce infrastructure costs, manage peak demand, and improve energy resilience.
• Why EV smart charging and load management will be essential for optimizing charging costs and ensuring fleet readiness.
• How future depots could evolve into integrated energy hubs combining charging infrastructure, solar generation, battery storage, and flexibility services.