Openreach and Allstar widen EV charging options for engineers

Openreach has partnered with payment platform Allstar to build a broader mix of charging options for the engineers who drive its electric vans. The company runs more than 7,000 EVs in a fleet of more than 22,000 vehicles, but one in three of its engineers cannot have an EV charger installed at home.

Under the partnership, Allstar Homecharge will pay work-related home charging costs directly to drivers' energy suppliers. Engineers will not have to pay upfront or claim the money back through expenses.

For public charging, Allstar and Openreach have concentrated on a smaller number of strategic charge point operators. Allstar Co-Pilot helps engineers find approved charging locations.

The two firms are also developing access to commercial and shared depot charging for engineers who need extra options during the working day. Through partners including First Charge and Voltempo, the aim is to offer infrastructure better suited to commercial vehicles. That includes larger bays, high-speed charging and bookable shared depot charging, payable with existing EV charge cards such as Allstar Chargepass.

Judy O'Keefe, Director of Fleet at Openreach, said there is "no single charging solution that works for everyone". She said Openreach has invested in a flexible mix of home, public and depot charging, and that Allstar is helping simplify how it manages and pays for it. She added that the company plans to move most of its fleet to zero emissions by 2031.

Tom Rowlands, Managing Director, Global EV Solutions at Corpay, which includes Allstar in the UK, said electrifying a fleet of this scale is not simply about putting more EVs on the road. He said a nationwide engineering workforce cannot assume everyone can plug in at home, and that the partnership can keep developing the charging mix as the fleet grows.