Powering Up at Home Making EV Policies Practical
WORDS BY SARAH JOHNSON
Having developed numerous diverse home charging policies for organisations across Australia, I’ ve seen firsthand that a truly effective electric vehicle( EV) fleet strategy hinges on acknowledging the practicalities of home charging. Forgetting this crucial element isn’ t just an oversight; it can create significant challenges, driver dissatisfaction, and ultimately leads to ambiguity and misalignment with your organisation’ s broader transition strategy.
When embarking on the development of your EV policy, the cornerstone is understanding your people and their daily routines. This requires moving beyond broad assumptions, and delving into the specifics of their lives. Develop detailed driver and trip personas: consider the city renter grappling with limited on-street parking and primarily undertaking short commutes; the suburban homeowner with driveway access managing a mix of local errands and longer weekend trips; and the regional worker reliant on reliable overnight charging to cover extensive distances. Their living situations and their typical driving patterns significantly influence their charging needs and the feasibility of EV ownership.
Whilst this may sound like more employee information than an employer would usually delve into, this can be easily achieved by way of a highlevel questionnaire or survey.
The strategic decision of whether EV adoption is mandated or offered as an option has a huge impact on the necessary scope and nature of your home charging support. A mandatory EV allocation necessitates the need to solve this issue for every driver. Conversely, an optional approach, while offering more flexibility, still requires well-defined guidelines for participating employees.
Your policy should explicitly outline how your organisation will assist employees in these varied circumstances and be mindful of the need for charging to be convenient and not disrupt productivity for the employee. It may detail reimbursement models and infrastructure approaches through a curated network of approved installers, direct financial contributions towards installation costs, or even exploring innovative technology solutions for those without dedicated parking.
Ignoring the complexities of home charging will undoubtedly impact the successful uptake of EVs within your fleet. Drivers facing charging anxieties or logistical nightmares are less likely to embrace the transition. A thoughtful and well-articulated policy will empower your drivers, alleviate concerns, and streamline the entire EV adoption process.
6 ISSUE 52 APRIL 2025 / WWW. AFMA. ORG. AU