Ampol’s Head of e-Mobility Angeles Miranda talks to Fleet Auto News Caroline Falls for our podcast series about the Australian petroleum company’s rollout of a national electric vehicle charging network, called AmpCharge, and how fleets are making the transition to EVs.
In April, Ampol announced it was rolling out an EV charging network at its petrol stations around the country, the first of which are set to open this month — June 2022.
“We have a great ambition. The commitments so far have been 121 sites towards the end of next year. That’s going to be rolled out mainly in our fuel service stations. We’re also working with different partners to bring the solutions into different places such as shopping centres, and also home and fleet solutions. So you wouldn’t be surprised if you see an AmpCharge in your workplace in the future,” said Miranda.
Turning to fleets transitioning to a more environmentally sustainable operation, Miranda said, “What I’m seeing is that fleet is going to be likely the first segment across Australia that’s going to transition.”
The first step companies take is to identify carbon emissions, she said.
“It’s like an eye-opening moment, like wow, we had no clue that was so big, etcetera,” said Miranda, adding, “That emotional reaction is strong. And then you set targets, but then you have the problem of how we actually hit those targets because it is challenging to find vehicles.”
Miranda cites research by the Australasian Fleet Management Association showing the biggest considerations among fleets planning to transition are: what electric vehicles are available and at what cost, and how to incorporate charging infrastructure into the workplace.
“There are other considerations that maybe are not so top in the conversation,” said Miranda.
One of those is how EV chargers in the workplace will be managed so that everybody isn’t wanting to charge at the same time. Another is change management, and how drivers are going to interact with different apps, different payment and charging systems. Also, fleets will need to work out how they are going to reconcile expenses regarding charging vehicles at home.
Australia may be a laggard in the take-up of electric vehicles and in establishing an EV charging network but that can change quickly particularly because it can learn lessons from overseas.
“Our perspective is that we have our one time in a life opportunity to learn from other countries. Do it fast, do it great,” said Miranda.
— Caroline Falls is a freelance writer. She has been contributing to Fleet Auto News since 2015. She can be contacted at carolinefalls@gmail.com
