Fleet & Bus Depot Charging Infrastructure
Managed charging infrastructure for bus depots, logistics hubs and delivery fleets. Plan charger power, load management, RFID driver access, OCPP/CSMS reporting and maintenance before ordering hardware.
The Challenge
Fleet operators converting from diesel face a classic depot problem: if all vehicles charge at the same time, the grid connection and electricity bill become hard to control. They need chargers that match route schedules, driver access rules, available power, payment or cost-allocation policy and maintenance windows. For software scope, review the fleet charging management / CPO platform guide before confirming charger quantities.
Our Approach
- Depot charging schedule: OCPP smart charging assigns charging windows by departure time, expected energy need and site power limit.
- AC overnight bays: 7kW, 11kW or 22kW AC chargers fit long parking windows for vans, staff cars and some depot vehicles.
- DC top-up bays: 60kW, 120kW or 150kW DC fast chargers support short turnaround, emergency top-up and high-utilization vehicles.
- RFID and payment policy: Use RFID driver ID for private fleets, or QR/POS payment if the depot also opens chargers to public or partner users.
- Per-vehicle energy reports: Each charger reports kWh per session, driver or vehicle ID, faults and charger availability to the CSMS.
- Maintenance planning: Confirm remote diagnostics, spare parts, cable replacement, connector cleaning and uptime responsibility before rollout.
Fleet depot design checklist
| Planning item | What to confirm | Useful SUNFULL page |
|---|---|---|
| Depot layout | Bay count, cable route, vehicle turning radius, charger mounting, safety distance and service access. | Fleet charging solution |
| Power selection | AC for long-dwell vehicles, DC for top-up or tight turnaround, and future expansion space. | Power selection guide |
| Load management | Site power limit, transformer capacity, peak tariff, charging window and optional BESS buffer. | OCPP / CSMS platform |
| RFID/payment | Driver ID, employee charging, partner access, QR payment or POS terminal needs. | RFID, QR and POS guide |
| Maintenance | Remote fault alarm, spare cable/gun, module replacement, preventive inspection and service responsibility. | OCPP testing checklist |
Fleet RFQ information to send
Share fleet size, vehicle type, route window, daily mileage, parking time, available grid power, charger quantity, AC/DC mix, RFID or payment requirement, OCPP/CSMS backend preference and maintenance responsibility. This is more useful than asking for a charger price alone.
Recommended Products
22kW Fleet Wallbox
OCPP fleet management, RFID per driver
120kW DC Fast Charger
Top-up bays, 30min to 80%
Container BESS
Peak shaving for large depots
Example depot design scenario
A depot with 40 overnight bays may combine 22kW AC chargers for long-dwell vehicles with several DC top-up bays for exceptions. The design should limit simultaneous peak load, identify each driver or vehicle by RFID, and report kWh by session through the CSMS for cost allocation.
FAQ
How does smart scheduling guarantee every vehicle is fully charged at shift start?
Our OCPP backend collects each vehicle SoC and its departure time from the route schedule. It calculates the minimum charging power needed and assigns a window within the overnight period. Vehicles with the lowest charge or earliest departure get priority.
Can the system handle mixed fleets - cars, vans, buses?
Yes. Each bay is configured with its own power limit and vehicle type. The scheduling algorithm treats each vehicle independently based on its actual energy need.
What happens if a vehicle needs emergency top-up during the day?
Designate 1-2 DC fast charger bays as on-demand bays. These are not part of the scheduled overnight programme and can be used ad-hoc by drivers via RFID.
Can I integrate with our existing fleet management software?
Yes. We provide a REST API and webhook system. Pre-built integrations exist for Samsara, Geotab, and Webfleet. Custom integrations take 2-4 weeks via our engineering team.
Do fleet depots need payment terminals?
Private depots usually use RFID driver or vehicle ID instead of POS payment. If chargers will be opened to public users, contractors or partner fleets, QR payment, app payment or POS terminal scope should be confirmed before ordering.
Ready to Start Your Project?
Send us your site plan or power requirements and we will prepare a complimentary system design within 2 business days.
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