Overnight at the depot is the cheapest place to charge
A van that returns to the yard at the end of a shift sits parked until morning. Those hours make AC charging the natural fit for most fleets.
At 11kW, a vehicle adds energy for roughly 37 miles of driving per hour, and at 7.4kW about 25 (LGA, derived from car figures). Vans usually use more energy per mile than cars, so treat those as upper figures. Over a full night, that still covers a typical day's work for many vans.
Rapid DC charging costs far more to install and needs a much bigger supply. For vehicles that are parked overnight, it is usually money spent on speed you don't use. Our AC vs DC guide explains the difference.
Why North East fleets are moving now
The van mandate
The ZEV mandate sets a 2026 target of 24% zero-emission for new vans, rising to 34% in 2027 and 70% in 2030 (DfT consultation). A review consultation runs until 23 October 2026, and the government says changes "will not change the destination". Our ZEV mandate guide tracks the detail.
The Tyneside Clean Air Zone
Newcastle and Gateshead have charged non-compliant vans £12.50 a day in the Clean Air Zone since 17 July 2023 (Gateshead Council). Private cars are not charged.
The charge applies only to vans that don't meet national emissions standards. Check any vehicle with the national Clean Air Zone checker. For fleets running older diesels into the city centre, it adds to the case for switching.
Public charging is thin
The North East has 150.2 public chargers per 100,000 people, below the UK average of 174.9 (DfT). A fleet that relies on public charging spends drivers' time looking for a free bay.
Public prices are higher too. Standard public chargers averaged 54p/kWh in September 2026 and rapid chargers 79p/kWh (Zapmap). Depot charging runs on your own business tariff.
How a Victus install works at a depot
Layout
We place pedestals along the bays where vans park at night, so drivers plug in without moving vehicles. Each pedestal has two Type 2 sockets and sits about 1.4m tall, so it fits beside a bay without getting in the way of loading.
The pedestal is rated from -30°C to +55°C. It is built for an open yard through a North East winter.
Access and reporting
Each driver or vehicle gets an RFID card. The charger meters every session and logs it in our OCPP back office, so you can see energy use by card.
That record helps with internal cost allocation and with checking how the fleet is actually being charged. If some drivers take vans home, it also gives you a consistent depot record to compare against.
Load management and off-peak charging
Ten vans plugging in at 6pm all at once can exceed what a depot supply can carry. The charger's optional dynamic load balancing shares the available capacity across pedestals and against your workshop and building load.
It can also lean charging into the hours when your site uses less power. Our load management guide explains the options.
Rules for private chargers
Chargers sold for workplace use are covered by the Smart Charge Points Regulations 2021 (gov.uk). They need smart functionality, default off-peak charging hours and a randomised delay. A staff-only or fleet-only depot charger is not a public charger, so the Public Charge Point Regulations don't apply unless you open it up.
The grid
Larger depots will usually need a Northern Powergrid application before connection. Under national standards, the network operator should quote within 25 working days for low-voltage connections needing LV works, and 35 where high-voltage works are involved (Notice of Rights). We make the application and plan the phases.
Which package suits a fleet depot
Owned & Managed fits most depots. A fleet-only charger has no public sales to share, so a profit split has little to work with. You buy the chargers and installation and pay us to run setup, monitoring and maintenance.
Chargepoint equipment also qualifies for a 100% first-year capital allowance until 31 March 2027 for Corporation Tax (HMRC). Check with your accountant how it applies to you.
Shared Investment only makes sense if the depot chargers will also be open to the public or a partner fleet at set times. The packages page sets out both, and the revenue estimator shows what public sessions might add.
Honest caveats
- Check each vehicle's AC limit. Many vans accept less than 22kW on AC. Your vehicles' onboard charger ratings decide the real charging time.
- High-mileage, double-shift vehicles may not get enough time on AC. If vans run day and night, you may need rapid charging alongside, so tell us your duty cycles at survey.
- Plan for growth. Lay ducts for the bays you'll need in three years, even if you fit fewer pedestals now.
If your staff also drive EVs to work, the workplaces page covers staff charging and tariffs. We cover depots from Teesside to Newcastle.
Next step
Send us your fleet size, vehicle models and depot postcode, and we'll book a free survey of the yard and supply. We'll set out costs, supply options and a phased plan under the packages that fit.