EV Charging for Last Mile Delivery

Charging Strategy

Depot-based overnight AC charging should cover 90% of your needs. Plug in every vehicle at the end of each shift, even if the battery is not low, so every van starts the day with a full charge. Reserve DC fast charging for emergencies or unusually long route days, not as a daily habit.

Practical Tips

• Charge overnight at the depot on AC (7-11 kW). A full charge takes 6-8 hours, which fits perfectly into a typical overnight window between shifts.
• Set departure time pre-conditioning if the vehicle supports it. Warming or cooling the cabin while still plugged in saves 5-10% range on cold or hot mornings.
• Keep daily state of charge between 20% and 80% for routine shifts. Only charge to 100% when you know the next day's route is unusually long.
• Plan one backup DC fast charger along your busiest route. A 15-minute stop at a 50 kW charger adds roughly 80-100 km, enough to finish a long day.
• Track which routes consistently drain more battery. Hills, motorway sections, and routes with heavy cargo loads all increase consumption noticeably.
• In winter, expect 15-25% less range. Schedule lighter routes or plan a mid-shift top-up at a DC charger when temperatures drop below 5 degrees C.

Common Concerns

• Vehicle downtime from charging cutting into delivery windows
• Range running short on high-volume delivery days
• Finding available public chargers for midday top-ups
• Cold weather reducing range during winter delivery peaks
• Charging cost per delivery affecting route profitability

Quick Readiness Check

Answer these questions to get a quick picture of how ready your last mile delivery operation is for electric vehicles.

Recommended Vehicles

These vehicles are commonly used in last mile delivery and can cover the typical 150 km daily requirement on a single charge.

Saving on Charging Costs

• Overnight depot charging at 0.15-0.25 EUR/kWh is 3-5x cheaper than DC fast charging at 0.45-0.75 EUR/kWh. Make depot charging the default, not the backup.
• If your electricity contract allows it, schedule charging to start during off-peak hours (typically after 22:00). Many chargers and vehicles support delayed start.
• Avoid mid-route DC fast charging unless absolutely necessary. One unnecessary 30-minute DC session per vehicle per week can add 500-800 EUR per vehicle per year.
• Monitor tyre pressure monthly. Under-inflated tyres on a loaded delivery van can increase energy consumption by 5-10%, which adds up across a fleet.

Making the Switch

Start by electrifying your shortest, most predictable routes first. These routes rarely need mid-day charging, which means fewer surprises while your team builds confidence. Once drivers see that a full overnight charge covers their daily route with range to spare, expanding to longer routes becomes much easier.