Last Mile Solutions adds functions for electric trucks to its charging app.
Last Mile Solutions is integrating electric truck features into its existing charging app for the first time. Drivers can now identify suitable locations and check charging costs in advance. This move by the Dutch provider responds to the increasing number of electric trucks being registered across Europe.
Image: Volvo Trucks
Last Mile Solutions has released a major update to its charging app, expanding its functionality to include electric truck charging. According to the company, the general improvements include a redesigned user interface and faster app performance. With this update, charging infrastructure operators (CPOs) can now indicate whether their charging locations are suitable for trucks. “This allows truck drivers to determine in advance which charging stations are suitable for their vehicles,” the provider states in a message sent to us via email. “Electric trucks require space, an appropriate clearance height, a sufficiently load-bearing surface, and access routes.” Better visibility of suitable charging locations is crucial to facilitate access for electric truck drivers to charging infrastructure and ensure its effective use.
According to Last Mile Solutions, the update also increases transparency in pricing. Drivers can now view a detailed breakdown of all fees involved even before starting a charging session. This includes energy costs, initiation fees, time-based charges, downtime fees, and possible usage surcharges. VAT and any currency conversions are also displayed. This is intended to give drivers a better overview of the costs. Other improvements, according to the provider, include the ability to download invoices and reimbursement documents directly through the app, as well as enhanced QR code recognition, “so that drivers can start charging at a greater number of charging stations more easily by scanning a QR code,” the company says.
"A good charging experience starts even before arriving at the charging station," emphasizes Rouven Besters, Chief Commercial Officer at Last Mile Solutions. "Drivers need to be able to determine whether a location is suitable for their vehicle and receive all relevant cost information before starting the charging process. This is particularly important as demand for charging options for electric trucks is rising. If a truck driver only discovers upon arrival that a charging station is not suitable for their vehicle, it can significantly disrupt their journey. At the same time, more and more charging infrastructure operators are investing in specialized charging stations for trucks. They must ensure that drivers can actually find and use these locations." By providing drivers with better information in advance, we can improve the charging experience and at the same time help our partners strengthen their customer relationships and make more efficient use of their infrastructure.”
The app is part of Last Mile Solutions’ e-Mobility service portfolio and is available to partners either as a turnkey solution or as a white-label app fully customized with their own brand design. Essentially, the app offers access to over 800,000 charging stations and is available for iOS and Android in ten languages.
The core business of the company founded in 2007 remains its own platform for charging and energy transaction management. According to the company, this platform directly connects around 324,000 charging points, provides access to approximately 850,000 roaming charging points, and processes over 5.5 million transactions per month in 22 countries. Last Mile Solutions specifically supports both Charge Point Operators (CPOs) and eMobility Service Providers (eMSPs) with solutions for billing, payment management, and smart charging. Just a few weeks ago, the provider introduced a new approach for price-optimized charging. This tool is designed to help fleet managers reduce their energy costs associated with charging by up to 30 percent.
_Source: Information via email_