With the electrification of fleets on the rise, transport companies and truck drivers are increasingly looking for infrastructures adapted to their new needs. For landowners, this represents a rare opportunity to position themselves as key players in this transition, while generating additional income. By creating secure parking facilities equipped with truck charging stations, you’re not only responding to growing demand, you’re also playing an important role in transforming the transport sector towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.
1. Choosing the ideal location
Choosing the right location is crucial to attracting carriers. A good parking lot should be easily accessible from major roads and freeways, and close to logistics zones or distribution centers. Make sure your lot is well served and visible to maximize its use.
2. Offering driver-friendly services while guaranteeing safety
To attract and retain drivers, it’s essential to offer them services that meet their needs after long hours on the road, while ensuring their safety. Indeed, the European Secure Parking Organisation (ESPORG) standard offers a recognized certification that assesses the quality of infrastructure and services provided by secure truck parking facilities (PPLS). This certification guarantees that parking lots meet safety, comfort and convenience requirements, ensuring an optimal parking experience for truck drivers.
Essential services:
- WCs and showers: clean, well-maintained sanitary facilities are a must. After hours on the road, drivers particularly appreciate being able to freshen up in modern showers.
- Dining and rest area: A space where drivers can eat and relax is a real plus. Offer a dining room with fast-food options, but also spaces for resting, equipped with comfortable armchairs or even rest rooms with beds for quick naps.
- Leisure areas: consider adding relaxation areas such as a gym or games room, so drivers can unwind before hitting the road again.
Enhanced security: security is also an integral part of drivers’ expectations, and one of the major criteria for ESPORG certification. A well-secured parking lot attracts more customers and keeps them coming back for more. Here are some security measures to include:
- Video surveillance: install cameras covering the entire parking lot, connected to a 24/7 monitoring center.
- Fencing and lighting: make sure the parking lot is well fenced, with strong lighting at night to eliminate shadows.
- Security personnel: the presence of security guards, especially at peak times, enhances the feeling of security.
With these services and the implementation of ESPORG-compliant safety standards, you can guarantee a safe and comfortable environment that meets drivers’ requirements, while ensuring their well-being during breaks.
3. Set up an efficient reservation and access system
Managing the flow of trucks in a parking lot can quickly become complex. To avoid traffic jams and overcrowding, set up an online reservation system. This system enables drivers to reserve their parking space and recharging slot in advance, guaranteeing better flow management and optimization of available space.
An automated access system, based on license plate recognition or the use of QR codes, greatly facilitates truck entry and exit. It also secures access and ensures that only reserved drivers can enter, reducing the risk of theft or vandalism.
Un système d’accès automatisé, basé sur la reconnaissance de plaques d’immatriculation ou l’utilisation de QR codes, facilite grandement l’entrée et la sortie des camions. Cela permet aussi de sécuriser l’accès et de s’assurer que seuls les conducteurs ayant réservé peuvent entrer, réduisant ainsi les risques de vol ou de vandalisme.
4. Install truck-friendly charging stations
The heart of your parking lot lies in the quality and power of the charging stations you offer. At Chargepoly, we offer fast charging stations of up to 400 kW, perfectly adapted to the needs of electric truck fleets. They enable fast, efficient recharging, essential for drivers in a hurry to get back on the road.
The power of the charging stations must be matched to the charging capacity of the trucks, to guarantee a complete recharge in optimum time. It is also important to provide a sufficient number of charging points to avoid long waiting times.
5. Thinking ahead with scalable infrastructures
Finally, consider designing your parking lot to be future-proof. Demand for electric truck recharging facilities is set to grow in the coming years. Planning infrastructures that are easily expandable, both in terms of parking space and charging stations, will enable you to meet this demand without having to rethink your entire installation.
6. Opt for Chargepoly's third-party investment offer
One of the main obstacles to setting up such infrastructures is the initial investment cost. That’s why Chargepoly offers a third-party investment solution that removes this obstacle. With our offer, we finance the entire CAPEX (capital expenditure) and OPEX (operating expenditure), guaranteeing a financially accessible solution for our partners.
Here’s what our offer includes:
- Low, predictable charging prices: our partners benefit from total cost control, thanks to fixed, transparent pricing, essential for planning your operations over the long term.
- 99% uptime: 24/7 technical support ensures that your charging stations remain operational at all times, avoiding any loss of revenue.
- A turnkey approach: Chargepoly takes care of the development, installation and operation of the infrastructure, allowing you to concentrate on your core business without worrying about the day-to-day management of the charging stations
Conclusion
Creating a secure truck park equipped with charging stations for electric trucks is an excellent opportunity for landowners looking to make the most of their space and generate profits. By choosing a strategic location, offering appropriate services, implementing modern management systems and installing high-performance charging stations, you’re not only ensuring an optimum return on investment, but also contributing to the future of cleaner, more sustainable road transport.
At Chargepoly, we’re with you every step of the way, removing financial barriers from the outset and supporting you throughout design and implementation, to ensure that your parking lot is perfectly adapted to the expectations of your future customers.
