In an age when attention to the environment is a priority, companies are called upon to do their part. Aero Alliance, aware of this responsibility, has decided to adopt cutting-edge solutions for its employees and thus accelerate the transition towards more sustainable mobility.
Dr. Matteo Violante – Digital Technology Leader – tells us how the company is making the best use of the latest technologies to create an efficient and user-friendly charging infrastructure.
The Project
Why did you decide to invest in the installation of charging stations in the company?
Being a company that also works for the oil & gas sector, we wanted to give great importance to the energy efficiency of our plant through several installations: we equipped the plant with photovoltaic panels on the roof of the plant and the canteen, for a capacity of 750kW per day. In parallel we have installed at first 4 charging stations and as many in 2024 all powered by photovoltaic energy.
What are the main objectives of this project?
The main objective is to make the plant more energy efficient through electricity generation and introduce a culture of electric mobility. Last but not least, since safety at work is fundamental, through photovoltaic we could eliminate the combustion of hydrocarbons used for heating water in the company.
How was the type and number of charging stations chosen?
The first 4 stations were part of a general supply and we opted for 7.4kW single-phase Type2; when we doubled the stations, given the capacity of the current machines in circulation, we went towards the 22kW three-phase.
The point of view of employees
How are you communicating this new service to employees?
Our colleagues received a corporate communication in which we explained the use of the evway app even in private contexts and the simple process of registering and activating the profile to be able to recharge in the company. We also pointed out that the company’s charge is cheaper than that found in public charging points, which is certainly a good point of attention.
What are the benefits that employees can get from using company charging stations?
In addition to the economic advantage, employees benefit from a parking space reserved for the columns which facilitates charging operations. At the moment we have no parking time limits.
Have you found an interest from employees in using charging stations?
Before installing the charging points, we had perceived some perplexity and resistance from our colleagues towards electric mobility. Since 2024 we have seen the triple of machines in recharging sign that the project has been successful and continues to attract a lot of interest.
I personally have an electric car and also a scooter, always electric… in fact I do not know the slightest price of fuels!
Sustainability and innovation
How does this project fit into the wider framework of corporate sustainability? Does this project link to other sustainability initiatives in the company?
We are launching a series of initiatives that are moving in the direction of greater sustainability. In the period between February and June 2024, for example, we offered incentives to employees for car pooling and will continue this path in the coming months.
What are the main challenges you have encountered during the implementation of this project?
Once the bureaucratic part was over, it was not easy to find a reliable partner for management solutions. Fleet220, from this point of view, has proven to be the ideal partner as it allows us to view, monitor and report all the charging sessions within a dedicated web platform.
Do you plan to expand the project in the future?
We currently have a hybrid company car in pool that we would replace with an electric 100% and we are also waiting to understand the strategies that the Government will adopt to support companies to start other projects.
The Experience with Fleet220
What were the main criteria in choosing Fleet220 for the installation of charging stations and for managing fleet recharges? Have you given priority to aspects such as technology, support, cost or other factors?
Among all the options available, Fleet220 is the one we have evaluated as the most complete for our business needs. The Fleet220 back end platform allows us to manage stations, access to charging for employees only and billing costs, all with a service in line with expectations in terms of efficiency, punctuality and data reliability.
How do you rate the collaboration with Fleet220? Are you satisfied with the services and support provided?
I found the Fleet220 solutions to be very satisfactory, both through proactive and effective customer service and advice, which provided us with valuable tips and advice for infrastructure expansion.
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