The AA runs one of the most complex fleets in the UK and no two days are the same for its patrols. They're heading into high-stress situations, so their vans need to be ready to go every morning with the right kit on board.
Our CEO, Charlie Cook sat down with Sam Biggs, Roadside Fleet Manager at The AA, to talk about how they're electrifying the fleet and where Rightcharge fits in.
Test and scale
The AA is taking a test-and-scale approach to electrification, because payload matters when your patrols carry heavy tools and equipment and EVs give up some of it. That means making careful choices about what goes in each van before it goes electric. Company cars and salary sacrifice have already gone further, with the AA moving to an all-electric policy, and Sam says it's working really well.
Why home charging reimbursement mattered
None of the AA's patrols park at a depot, so every van goes home at night. Sam's team needed a way to pay patrols back for charging at home that would never leave them out of pocket, since all they're doing is charging the tool they need for their job. They wanted a single offering to handle direct reimbursement and Rightcharge was the company that could provide it.
What it looks like for drivers
For patrols, it's about as simple as it gets. They get home, plug in, and the van is fully charged the next morning. Reimbursement lands on their energy account before their bill is due, so there are no expenses to submit and no mileage to track.
Onboarding is just as easy. As Sam puts it, "They're given a guide, but nobody reads it because it is just so simple."
What it looks like for the fleet team
Sam logs into the Rightcharge portal to see all the AA's charging data, from how many home and public charging sessions happened each day to what was spent. Sam can also see the split between renewable and grid energy, which feeds straight into the AA's ESG reporting. Taking reimbursement off the fleet team's plate has removed a lot of admin for them and for the patrols.
Keeping costs down
Public charging is expensive, and Sam is clear that home charging is the best way to keep total cost of ownership down. Across the AA's fleet, 82% of charging happens at home, which saves up to £1,000 per driver per year compared with charging on the public network.
For the times patrols do need to top up on the road, The AA helped us trial the Rightcharge Gold Card, which brings public charging prices down by up to 35%. Our team contacted every patrol and company car driver directly to explain how to use it and where to get the best rates, so Sam didn't need to get involved. For drivers like her who can't charge at home, it's been a real help with costs.
Sam's advice for other fleet managers
"Speak to Rightcharge. Be honest and open in terms of what you're looking for." Even when there isn't an off-the-shelf answer, Sam says our team is creative about finding one and nothing has been too big for us so far.