Cenex, the low emission transport specialists, has teamed up with C40 Cities, Uber and the Greater London Authority to solve a key problem for electric vehicle drivers in big cities: finding convenient, affordable places to charge.
The focus of this project is specifically on high-mileage fleets, those vehicles that cover a lot of ground every day, such as Uber drivers, delivery vans, and emergency vehicles. These drivers often can’t charge at home and need quick, reliable charging options nearby. But in a crowded city like London, public charging points can be expensive, limited, or hard to reach.
Exploring a potential solution, the project will test new shared charging models, with charging stations that can be used by multiple types of fleet operators, not just one company or group. For example, a single charging point might be shared by Uber drivers, NHS vehicles and courier services, depending on time of day and priority.
Over the duration of the project Cenex will design and run three real-life charging pilots in London to see how shared use of EV chargers could work in practice. They will subsequently analyse data from these trials to understand what works, what doesn’t and what could be improved. Ultimately they will write up best practice guidance so that cities around the world can use the results to plan smarter charging infrastructure.
The ultimate goal is to help cities like London move faster toward zero-emission transport, not just by installing more chargers, but by making better use of the ones already there. By sharing chargers among different users, cities can make charging more accessible, more affordable, and more efficient.
Similar projects are also taking place in Boston and Phoenix, with the London project running until February 2027.
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 for high mileage vehicle 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, added: ‘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.’
Leave a Reply