Guide 15:
Managing charging, chargers and batteries
Smart charger software systems can help manage your charging.
Make sure you give priority to vehicles that need recharging most, while managing the total electricity demand for electric vehicle charging at your site.
Keep an eye on where charging happens. Your electric vehicles should be charging overnight at their base when not in use; this is cheapest, has lowest emissions and is best for the battery. Regular use of direct current (DC) fast charging close to base suggests vehicles are not being charged overnight or drivers do not understand different ways to charge. The electric vehicle driving range may not be enough to complete daily duties if it is often DC fast charged close to base and a longer-range electric vehicle should be considered.
Battery state of charge
Electric vehicles should be kept between 20% and 80% of capacity where possible to maximise battery life. Charging to 100% ahead of long journeys is fine, but vehicles should not be kept at very high states of charge (over 90%) for long periods of time. If an electric vehicle will be unused for a while (for example over the summer holidays) it should ideally sit with around 50% charge.
Annual electric vehicle charger inspection
WorkSafe requires that electric vehicle charging equipment has an annual electrical safety inspection conducted by a qualified inspector and that charging equipment is tagged to confirm this. Make sure any home-based electric vehicle chargers installed for staff are included in your schedule of charger inspections.
As the charging station operator, you need to keep records of the electric vehicle charger inspections for at least three years.
Guidelines for safe electric vehicle charging — WorkSafe Mahi Haumaru Aotearoa