Openreach partners with myenergi to power electric fleet

Openreach, which operates the UK’s second-largest commercial fleet, has signed an agreement with myenergi to supply thousands of smart ‘zappi’ EV chargers to its engineers, providing them with a simple way to charge vehicles at home overnight.

The partnership will support Openreach’s transition to a low-emissions fleet and forms part of the company’s ‘Let’s Reach Zero’ strategy, which focuses on reducing carbon emissions, cutting waste, and protecting nature.

The ‘zappi’ chargers offer fast and flexible charging at up to 22kW and smart modes that make the most of solar and off-peak tariffs. The installations will be carried out by OVO Energy.

At the same time, Openreach will significantly expand its charging network with new chargers at hundreds of its operational sites nationwide. This is part of a £3 million investment in charging infrastructure to help remove one of the biggest practical barriers to EV adoption.

Judy O’Keefe, Director of Fleet, Openreach, said: “We’re making strong progress on our journey to net zero, having invested in more than 5,000 electric vans and more than 2,500 home chargers already. Switching the majority of our fleet to electric by 2031 is a big challenge but this partnership is another important step - giving our engineers smart, reliable charging at home to support a greener future.

“We’ve also introduced an incentive programme to encourage smarter charging habits, focusing on home charging and using selected public Charge Point Operators. These incentives range from behind-the-barrier access to night-time discounts and driver perks.”

Andrew Clint, CEO, myenergi, said: “We’re delighted that Openreach staff will soon be charging their new plug-in vehicles with zappi chargers. Transitioning such an extensive fleet is no mean feat, but developing the necessary infrastructure to ensure drivers can charge up at home is a huge step forward.

“With zappi, staff will benefit from one of the world’s smartest EV chargers – simple, intuitive and specifically designed to streamline the home charging process. Thanks to the myenergi app, you can control zappi, and the wider myenergi home energy management system (HEMS), with the touch of a button. Quick, simple and sustainable. It’s another important part our mission to accelerate the UK’s transition to sustainable transport and our commitment to powering the future of fleet electrification.”

Openreach plans to add a further 2,000 EVs to its fleet by the end of March 2026 – contributing to its parent, BT Group’s ambition to reach net zero carbon emissions across its entire operations by 2031.