EV charging


Powering the future M


edium and heavy-duty


vehicles are responsible for roughly one quarter of transport emissions in both the US and EU. As these sectors rapidly electrify, fueling this


transition hinges on dependable, efficient and scalable fast-charging infrastructure, especially as electric truck sales surged by 80% globally in 2024.


Meeting this demand requires more than simply deploying high-power chargers. Large EV fleets consume substantial power: a typical enroute charging hub or bus depot may draw multiple megawatts, comparable to powering several villages. This demand calls for integrated electrical and digital architecture capable of delivering megawatt-scale charging that’s reliable, optimised and cost-effective.


Ensuring reliable charging infrastructure Reliable EV charging requires more than simply installing higher-capacity chargers; it demands the development of resilient, adaptable infrastructure tailored to diverse operational needs. En-route charging hubs, for example, must deliver rapid, on-demand power for vehicles stopping briefly, while depots require smart scheduling strategies to efficiently charge large fleets during overnight or off-peak hours.


Meeting these demands at scale requires a robust electrical foundation. This includes secure grid connections, high-capacity transformers,


“As fleet electrification expands, EV charging infrastructure must evolve without excessive financial or environmental cost.”


industrial-grade switchgear and on-site generation or energy storage systems. Any vulnerability within this infrastructure can lead to significant operational disruptions, from vehicle queueing to missed delivery schedules.


To mitigate these risks, digital systems can be deployed. By continuously monitoring uptime, managing load distribution and diagnosing faults in real time, intelligent software ensures infrastructure performs reliably under varying conditions. When integrated with resilient hardware, these digital tools enable consistent, efficient energy delivery, aligning power availability with operational demands.


Maximising performance through hardware


Beyond raw capacity, fast-charging infrastructure must combine equipment performance with intelligent operational strategies. When charging, heavy goods vehicles may demand 1MW or more at certain sites, making a modular charging structure necessary with energy buffering and flexible load shaping.


Smart load management balances charger 32 | electrical wholesalerSeptember 2025


availability, grid load, energy tariffs and real-time usage. A prime example of this in practice is the Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot in Montgomery County, Maryland. This converted diesel bus depot now powers an all-electric fleet of 70 buses. Its infrastructure includes a 6.5 MW microgrid with solar panels, battery storage and natural gas generation. Connected sensors and digital analytics orchestrate energy use, enabling 54 buses to charge simultaneously in around three hours. Over 25 years, this smart system is projected to avoid 160,000 tons of CO₂ emissions. This development highlights the critical role pairing high-performance systems with intelligent energy management plays in achieving operational excellence. Without this level of coordination, even the most advanced charging equipment can underdeliver, causing delays, increased energy costs and underutilisation. By integrating load forecasting, real-time monitoring and adaptive controls, operators can fine-tune performance across fluctuating demand profiles, energy markets and fleet schedules.


Planning for scalability, sustainability and cost efficiency


As fleet electrification expands, EV charging infrastructure must evolve without excessive financial or environmental cost. Effective planning involves not just station deployments, but grid interconnections, operations forecasting and decarbonisation alignment.


ewnews.co.uk


David Pownall, Schneider Electric UK & Ireland’s VP power systems, takes a deep dive on the future of electric fleets and their smart infrastructure needs.


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