A Growing Number of Fleet Drivers Can Now Charge at Home

A game-changing feature for drivers around the globe is the ability of battery electric vehicle (BEV) and plug in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) drivers to charge the vehicles at their homes. Home charging has many advantages. Those include the greatest convenience. Drivers can simply plug in when arriving at home. Another advantage is cost savings. Smart charging allows the vehicle to be charged when power is less expensive, due to time-of-use (TOU) electricity rates. Additionally, when the homes are solar-powered, drivers enjoy the most eco-friendly way to drive, adding to that the additional long-term savings the homeowner enjoys by installing solar panels. Plus, renewable energy of all kinds is growing fast, so more power utilities are using it in greater amounts to power their electric grids, as opposed to more expensive and planet-harming fossil fuels. So, a win-win-win across the board, when all the other advantages electric vehicles (EVs) have over internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are considered.

WEX Partners with Qmerit for Commercial Fleets, EV Charger Installation at Drivers’ Homes

WEX, a global commerce platform that simplifies business operations, partnered with EV charger installation provider Qmerit to offer an innovative new program allowing the installation of EV chargers at the homes of commercial fleet drivers.

On December 5, 2024, WEX announced the historic partnership, a game-changer for fleet operations. This partnership highlights the growing emphasis on integrating home EV charging solutions into fleet operations. Qmerit’s expertise in home EV charging installation provides a seamless experience for businesses like Dallas 1, enabling their fleet drivers to conveniently charge EVs at home while maintaining safety and quality standards. Dallas 1 is a specialty contractor based in Tampa, Florida. The company adopted electric vehicles and realized cost savings by partnering with WEX to manage their mixed-energy fleet.

Dallas 1’s estimated cost savings of over 60% per vehicle for fuel and maintenance costs illustrate the significant financial benefits of transitioning to EVs and leveraging solutions such as WEX EV At-Home. This program supports fleet electrification by simplifying at-home charging, tracking energy use, and streamlining reimbursements for drivers. The combination of Qmerit’s installation services and WEX EV At-Home technology creates a robust ecosystem that helps fleets reduce costs, improve efficiency, and contribute to sustainability goals.

“We’re seeing considerable cost savings in the unleaded vehicles we have swapped out for EVs thanks to at-home EV charging with WEX,” said BJ Azzarelli, President of Dallas 1. “Employees simply bring their work trucks home after their shift – and WEX’s detailed reporting and automated employee reimbursement is not only fully automated, it also seamlessly integrates into our existing bill and fleet management software portal.”

WEX EV At-Home provides commercial mixed-energy fleets with a comprehensive solution to streamline operations and reduce costs. This program integrates home charging capabilities with WEX’s robust fleet management software, enabling accurate and automated driver reimbursement, unified billing, and the convenience of a single WEX credit line for managing expenses. This is made possible in partnership with WEX’s long-standing partner, Enterprise Fleet Management.

“With electricians and other tradespeople in increasing demand, WEX’s partnership with Qmerit is meant to streamline the charger installation process, with ordering and installation functionality embedded within WEX’s fleet management software portal. It is a win-win when fleet managers can allow drivers to charge their work vehicles overnight at home, so they’re ready for work the next day, and save money while doing so,” said Jay Collins, SVP & GM, EV & Mobility at WEX. “Adopting a mixed-energy fleet is a risk-mitigated, calculated introduction to electric mobility, but can be an overwhelming endeavor that WEX’s technological solutions aim to help solve.”

WEX EV At-Home is at the forefront of addressing the operational and financial challenges faced by mixed-energy fleet operators during their transition to electrification. By enabling home charging and incorporating live utility rates, the program provides a highly accurate and seamless reimbursement process, ensuring fleet drivers are fairly compensated while minimizing administrative burdens for fleet managers. With flexible approval options—manual, bulk, or automatic—WEX EV At-Home ensures operational efficiency.

WEX’s broader commitment to enhancing EV fleet mobility is evident in its innovations throughout 2024, such as the acquisition of Sawatch Labs, which strengthens fleet electrification analytics, and its partnerships with key EV charging providers. These advancements highlight WEX’s integrated approach to supporting mixed-energy fleets, blending payment solutions, analytics, and charging capabilities.

A Frost & Sullivan study, commissioned by WEX, underscores the potential for significant growth in mixed-energy fleets, driven by commercial EV adoption and the cost benefits of at-home charging. However, the disparity between the perceived value of home charging and its actual adoption—only 23% of U.S. commercial drivers currently charge company vehicles at home—reveals a critical gap. Solutions like WEX EV At-Home, paired with initiatives like Qmerit’s installation services, are essential to bridging this gap, allowing fleets to realize substantial cost savings and operational benefits.

EVinfo.net congratulates WEX, QMerit, Enterprise Fleet Management and Dallas 1 for creating and participating in this great innovation. Fleet management has changed forever for the better, thanks to the fast-growing commercial EV revolution. Tremendous savings have combined with greater convenience and more eco-friendly operations to optimize fleet management, benefitting all involved.