First Charge has partnered with the Allstar EV expenses platform, according to company officials. The collaboration gives Allstar customers access to dozens of ultra-rapid chargers originally built for bus fleets.
First Charge operates the EV charging service from public transport company First Bus. The network provides public access to bus depot chargers at charging superhubs across the country.
Allstar Chargepass clients can now use these chargers at specially discounted rates. The charging stations range from 125kW to 350kW capacity.
Commercial Vehicle Focus
The First Charge sites were designed to handle entire bus fleets. This makes them suitable for larger commercial vehicles, including electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs).
The partnership helps address the UK’s limited commercial EV charging infrastructure.
While charging infrastructure for passenger vehicles continues improving, electric HGV and van adoption lags behind. The Road Haulage Association identifies insufficient depot and public charging infrastructure as key barriers preventing operators from investing in electric commercial vehicles.
“Central to a successful transition to net zero is infrastructure that can make charging an electric vehicle as convenient and as quick as possible. However, this demands an approach that is far from one size fits all.”
Tom Rowlands, managing director of global EV solutions at Corpay – Allstar’s parent company – emphasized the need for diverse charging solutions.
“That’s why we’ve focussed on bringing different charging environments to our customers, from near home charging to depots, for the smallest cars to the largest HGVs, and a single payment card that does it all,” Rowlands said.
Infrastructure Challenges
Installing new charging networks remains a significant ongoing project. However, infrastructure development hasn’t kept pace with driver demands and changing needs.
“This is why it’s critical to make use of every charging point the country has to offer and partnering with First Charge was the natural fit, with 10 locations across the UK,” Rowlands explained.
Faizan Ahmad, decarbonisation director at First Bus, highlighted the partnership’s potential. “Through First Charge, we are unlocking the potential of our depot charging infrastructure for use beyond our own bus charging needs, helping more fleets access ultra-rapid charging to make the switch to zero-emission vehicles.”
Ahmad described the collaboration as an important step toward a more inclusive and scalable charging network across the UK. He praised Allstar’s approach to making EV infrastructure accessible for all vehicle types.
The partnership addresses a gap in commercial vehicle charging while maximizing existing infrastructure investments.
