A new dataset offering fleets and the EV sector “unrivalled insights” into going electric is now available for free.

The real-world data was collected from over 6,000 EVs as part of UK Power Networks’ Optimise Prime innovation project

Intended to help the UK prepare for mass uptake of EVs in the transition to net zero, it features real-world data collected from over 6,000 EVs as part of UK Power Networks’ innovation project Optimise Prime.

The project saw the distribution network operator for electricity join forces with Novuna Vehicle Solutions, Scottish and Southern Energy Networks as well as some of the UK’s biggest fleet operators, Uber, Royal Mail and British Gas, to understand when, where and how often employees charge on-the-go, at home and in a depot.

The live trials from the project concluded in June 2022 and the data can now help shape the work of anyone involved in the low-carbon transport revolution.

The dataset can be used by fleet managers and businesses to model their own company’s charging patterns and take advantage of smart tools offered by networks to lower the cost of connecting and charging their fleets.

But it can also be used by electricity network operators in the UK and overseas, helping them build accurate forecasts and develop highly targeted, long-term investment strategies.

It can also support charging firms and local authorities ensure the right level of new infrastructure is delivered in the right places at the right time.

Ian Cameron, head of customer service and innovation at UK Power Networks, said: “Nowhere else in the world is there such a rich pool of data about the behaviour of electric vehicle fleets. We are proud to be offering it to the industry to interrogate and layer with their own data-driven insights. We hope this will become a fountain of innovation that will unleash a wave of creativity to help our communities to decarbonise faster and more affordably.”