EV charging for small business fleets: how to start with just a few EVs
A small business fleet usually needs a simple mix: one charging card for every driver, home charging with clean reimbursement for company cars and – only if needed – a few AC charge points on site. What matters is not fleet size but that costs are visible in one place and nobody has to collect receipts.
Most fleet electrification guides think in depots with dozens of charge points. Companies with three, ten or thirty vehicles have different questions: how do I start without a big project? What does it cost per month? And how do I keep admin low?
How do small fleets differ from large ones?
Small fleets rarely have a dedicated fleet team. Often the managing director, office manager or accounts team looks after vehicles on the side. Usage is mixed: one sales car with lots of motorway driving, two pool cars, one van. A charging solution has to be flexible and usable without training.
Feature | Small fleet | Large fleet |
|---|---|---|
Responsibility | on the side, often one person | dedicated fleet team |
Charging locations | mainly home and public | depot, home, public |
On-site infrastructure | optional, a few AC points | often many points with load management |
Main goal | low effort, clear costs | scale, utilisation, reporting |
Which charging locations does a small fleet need?
Public charging with a company charging card
One charging card per driver is the quickest start. All sessions go onto one monthly invoice, so private credit cards and single receipts disappear. Look for a wide network and the ability to assign sessions to drivers or vehicles. See business charging cards.
Home charging for company cars
If company cars stay overnight at employees' homes, home charging is often the cheapest option. Since 2026 in Germany the charged energy must be measured separately and reimbursed at the actual price or the flat rate (2026: 34 cents per kWh) under the BMF circular of 11 November 2025. See electricity flat rate 2026.
Charging on site
Charge points at your own site pay off if vehicles park there regularly, such as pool cars or vans. A few AC points are usually enough for small fleets. If you own the building and are an SME that mainly uses it yourself, the GEIG charge point duties do not apply (section 1(2) GEIG). If employees charge there, the electricity is tax-free for them under section 3 no. 46 EStG when provided on top of salary.
What does a small fleet charging solution cost?
Costs have three parts: the electricity, any on-site hardware and installation, and a platform or card fee. StromNow fleet packages start at EUR 7.99 per month plus VAT for Fleet Lite with two drivers included; each additional driver costs EUR 3.99. Fleet Standard is EUR 11.99 with two drivers included, each additional driver EUR 6.99. See the pricing page.
Charging prices are dynamic and vary by location, operator and tariff; drivers see current kWh prices in the Driver App before they start. To assess your total fleet costs, read cost per kilometre in an electric fleet.
How do you keep admin low?
One platform for all charging locations instead of several cards and portals
One consolidated invoice per month instead of single receipts
Assignment to driver, vehicle or cost centre at setup
Automatic home charging records instead of asking for meter readings
A short charging guide for drivers, for example in the app
Clear rules in your car policy – see company car policy for home charging
Get started in four weeks
Week 1: list vehicles, drivers and charging locations; check home charging options
Week 2: order charging cards, add drivers to the portal, set up cost centres
Week 3: set up home charging for company cars and decide the reimbursement method
Week 4: review the first monthly report and refine the rules
Whether you need charge points on site is best decided after a few months of real charging data.
Which questions should you settle before you start?
Even with a few vehicles, a short alignment before handing out the first cards pays off:
Who is the internal contact for drivers, cards and invoices?
Which vehicles may be used privately, and who charges at home?
Which method is used for home charging – actual costs or flat rate?
How are costs booked: by vehicle, driver or cost centre?
What happens if a card is lost or someone leaves the company?
The answers belong in a short company car policy. It does not need to be long, but it ensures everyone charges and bills under the same rules.
When is it worth adding your own charge points?
A good moment has come when several vehicles regularly park at your site during the day or overnight and often have to charge publicly. The first months of charging data show you how large that share is. How to size demand correctly is explained in plan fleet charging infrastructure.
How StromNow supports small fleets
With StromNow Fleet your drivers get a charging card for more than 1.2 million charge points in 32 countries and the Driver App with route planner. Home charging billing is included in the Fleet package, and all sessions go onto one monthly invoice. You can try StromNow free for 14 days – no credit card, no deposit, cancel any time. For fleet managers the Fleet Portal adds reports and exports.
Start your small fleet with StromNow – book a demo
Sources and further information
As of 20 October 2026. Prices from stromnow.com as of 20 October 2026. General information, not tax advice. The cover image is an AI-generated illustrative image.
Frequently asked questions about charging for small fleets
Which charging solution suits a small business fleet?
Usually a mix of a company charging card for public charging, home charging with reimbursement for company cars and, if needed, a few AC charge points on site. A central overview of all costs is key.
Does a small business need its own charge points?
Not necessarily. Many small fleets start with public and home charging. On-site charge points pay off when vehicles park there regularly.
Does the GEIG charge point duty apply to SMEs?
Not to non-residential buildings owned and mainly used by the SME itself (section 1(2) GEIG).
What does StromNow cost for a small fleet?
Fleet Lite costs EUR 7.99 per month plus VAT with two drivers included, each additional driver EUR 3.99. Fleet Standard costs EUR 11.99 with two drivers included, each additional driver EUR 6.99. Charging prices are added depending on location and tariff.
Can I test StromNow first?
Yes. You can try StromNow free for 14 days, with no credit card and no deposit. You can cancel any time.