What You Need to Know About WEX and EV Fleet Charging

Blink Charging is proud to announce our collaboration with WEX, a leading company that helps businesses manage fuel cards and fleets.  In the near future, electric vehicle (EV) fleet drivers will be able to use their WEX fleet cards to pay for charging at Blink chargers. Here’s what you need to know about Blink’s integration with WEX for mixed-energy fleets.

How the WEX EV RFID Card Works

With WEX EV RFID, fleet drivers will have access to a broad and growing network of public charging stations across the United States, helping to boost range confidence and making EV fleet operations simpler.

With WEX, fleet drivers can fill their internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles at a whopping 95% of gas stations in the U.S. and at WEX’s growing EV charging network while receiving a single invoice with one integrated set of reports. This makes WEX ideal for “mixed energy” fleets that contain both ICE and electric vehicles.

WEX’s network includes charging stations from multiple different EV charging companies. Blink is one of two companies soon joining the WEX network.

Benefits of WEX

Charging on the Go

Rather than requiring EV fleet drivers to carry multiple payment cards for EV charging networks, drivers can instead use a single WEX RFID card or the WEX DriverDash app to initiate charging at participating charging stations. The DriverDash app displays conveniently located and available chargers to minimize disruption to fleet drivers, even when a charge is required during their route.

Evolving for the Future

WEX is a pioneer in the ICE fleet business, and they are bringing that same innovative spirit to EV fleet management. Together, WEX and Blink Charging are helping fleet managers navigate the complexities that come with a changing transportation landscape. And we at Blink have similar goals with our fleet clients.

Blink Charging and WEX

Blink is committed to building solutions that make fleet electrification possible, and that includes roaming agreements with companies such as WEX.

Fleet owners and operators need two types of EV technology:

• A fleet management system for fleet managers

• Easy-to-use payment cards for fleet drivers

The Blink Fleet Management system gives fleet owners and managers reports on usage and scheduled charging. With the new WEX integration, fleet drivers can pay for charging using their existing WEX payment cards. This means they won't have to carry multiple RFID cards or download multiple payment apps. Soon, fleet drivers will be able to charge their electric fleet vehicles at public Blink charging stations using WEX!

As Blink COO and CEO-Elect Mike Battaglia said, “By integrating our services with WEX’s network, we reinforce our commitment to driving the global electrification of transportation and ensuring energy independence for all.”

Electrifying Your Fleet Depot with Blink

Electrifying a business or government fleet means switching all your vehicles from ICE vehicles to EVs and adding EV charging infrastructure to your fleet depots. The timing of your upgrade may depend on your budget, fleet size, and scheduling with other capital upgrades or contractors. But, with new fleet efficiency requirements, the best time to start electrifying your fleet is now.

Installing Blink Charging Stations

Every charging station project requires meticulous planning, installation, and ongoing maintenance. Blink’s fleet sales team can assist your electrification team in planning and maintenance.

Site Assessment

The first step in fleet electrification is to talk with a Blink expert about your needs and goals when it comes to your fleet EVs. Once we have learned what it is that you want to accomplish with your fleet electrification, we conduct an EV charging site assessment to determine what would be the best way to electrify your fleet depot.

Fleet Station Hardware

Many fleets need a mix of Level 2 (L2) charging stations, like the Blink Series 7, and at least one Direct Current Fast Charger (DCFC), like the Blink Series 9. This way, you can charge your vehicles while overnight using the L2 charging stations and use DCFC for when you need a vehicle charged quickly. Level 2 charging stations are cheaper to install than DCFC, making them a cost-effective solution for fleet managers.

Apply for Funding

Your business may qualify for federal, state, or local incentives for adding EV charging stations to your building. For example, the federal government provides a tax credit of up to $100,000 per charging station for qualifying businesses.

Visit the Blink Commercial Incentives Finder to search for rebates and incentives in your zip code.

Blink Services

Blink offers flexible business models including Host Owned, Hybrid Owned, and Blink as a Service. Businesses and fleets can choose the model that best fits their ownership goals and budget. The new Blink Care program and extended warranties support Host Owned locations that require semiannual preventative maintenance and worry-free charging.

Blink Fleet Management

Blink Hosts access the Blink Host Portal, which includes 24/7 driver support, but fleet managers can also get personalized access to the Blink Fleet Management tool. With Blink Fleet Management, you will be able to see an overview of all your charging stations at all your locations, assign stations to fleet groups, and schedule charging for off-peak hours. If your business also has workplace or public chargers, you can even generate and download sitewide reports about combined charging station usage and environmental impact of your employee and fleet charging stations.

Conclusion

Blink’s new integration with WEX is just the beginning. Now fleet operators can upgrade to powerful Level 2 and DC fast charging stations at their depots and integrate their Blink charging stations with their drivers’ WEX RFID cards. Ready to get started with electrifying your fleet? Contact Blink Charging today.