Setting up fleet charging with VoltUp: from fleet account to your drivers' first charge

If you manage a fleet of electric taxis, limousines or other commercial EVs in Dubai, the question is not only where your drivers can charge. You also need to know how charging is paid for, tracked and invoiced. This guide walks through how fleet charging works at VoltUp: setting up the fleet account, onboarding drivers, and what your drivers can expect on their first charge at VoltUp's Umm Ramool charging station.

Who is VoltUp fleet charging for?

VoltUp fleet accounts are for companies that run electric vehicles in Dubai: taxi and limousine operators, other fleet operators and businesses with high-mileage commercial drivers. Private drivers charge at the same station with their own VoltUp account.

A fleet account includes four services:

• a fleet account that your drivers charge under

• onboarding of your drivers

• invoicing: one consolidated tax invoice per month

• usage reporting for reconciliation

Fleets pay the same public tariff as every other customer; see the current public tariff. For fleet accounts, invoicing, reporting and onboarding, see VoltUp's fleet page.

Step 1: Start the conversation

To start a fleet enquiry, WhatsApp the VoltUp team on +971 52 557 6145. You can also email info@voltup.ae or call the same number. There is no website form at launch. See all fleet enquiry options.

Step 2: Set up the fleet account

To set up a fleet account, we ask for:

From the fleet manager

• name

• phone number

• email address

From the company

• the company name as it appears on the trade licence

• the VAT certificate

• a fleet email address, which receives the monthly consolidated tax invoice and top-up receipts

VoltUp then creates the fleet account, and the fleet manager verifies their email address. From that point the account is ready for drivers.

Step 3: Add your drivers

Drivers can be added in two ways. Choose whichever suits your company.

Drivers join themselves, and the fleet manager approves.

1. The driver downloads the VoltUp app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

2. They enter their phone number and create their account.

3. They tap Join fleet.

4. The fleet manager approves the request.

The VoltUp team adds the drivers. The driver shows our team an ID that confirms they work for your company, and we add them to the fleet account.

Every driver creates a VoltUp account once. After that, they charge under the fleet.

Step 4: Top up the fleet wallet

The fleet manager tops up one main fleet wallet. Every driver approved on the fleet account charges from that shared wallet. Each top-up generates a receipt, which is sent to the fleet email address.

Step 5 (optional): RFID cards for drivers

Some fleets prefer drivers to start charging with a card instead of the app. On the fleet manager's request, our on-site team links an RFID card to a specific driver's account. Sessions started with that RFID card are charged to the fleet wallet, like sessions started through the app.

What should drivers know before their first charge?

The most useful thing a fleet manager can tell drivers is that they do not have to work it out alone. On their first visit:

1. Follow the signs into the station at 22B Street 25, Umm Ramool, Dubai, UAE. Get directions

2. Our team directs the car to a charging bay and, where there is a choice, picks a charger that suits the car. The driver parks in the designated bay.

3. A VoltUp operator connects the cable and helps the driver scan the QR code to start the session. This applies to every customer, day and night.

4. The driver can follow charging progress and view receipts in the VoltUp app (VoltUp app functions).

VoltUp's Umm Ramool charging station is open 24/7, with covered charging bays and an air-conditioned waiting area, prayer room, toilets, shower, Wi-Fi and cold drinking water. Being open 24/7 does not guarantee a free charger at any given moment; drivers can check availability in the VoltUp app before they set off. Reservations are not offered.

The one thing new EV drivers often get wrong

Many commercial drivers are moving from petrol cars to EVs for the first time, and many expect the charger to deliver its full rated power from the first second. In practice, the actual charging power depends on the car and the conditions, including its battery management system, battery temperature and current charge level. Ask your drivers for a bit of patience at the start of a session. The VoltUp operator at their bay can help if anything looks wrong.

If a driver's car does not use a native CCS2 connector: adapter support is available on site for a wide range of EVs that do not use native CCS2. If your vehicle needs an adapter, contact the VoltUp team or ask on site to confirm compatibility.

After charging: invoices and usage reports

Monthly consolidated tax invoice. On the first day of each month, the fleet receives one consolidated tax invoice covering the previous month's total usage in kWh and AED. For example, the invoice issued on 1 October covers all charging in September.

Usage reports. For reconciliation, the fleet manager can download a usage report for the relevant period, or ask the VoltUp team to prepare one.

What is not offered

To avoid surprises:

• No reservations. Chargers cannot be booked in advance.

• No website form for fleet enquiries. Fleet set-up starts with a conversation on WhatsApp, by email or by phone.

• No charging without an account. Every driver needs their own VoltUp account. Drivers charging for a fleet must also be added to that fleet account.

• No separate fleet tariff. Fleets pay the same public tariff as everyone else, shown on the pricing page.

Ready to set up your fleet?

WhatsApp VoltUp on +971 52 557 6145, or see the fleet page for an overview of fleet services. If you are a driver who has just been added to a fleet, download the VoltUp app, create your account, tap Join fleet and wait for your fleet manager's approval before your first session.

About the author Feroz Khaja is Technical Manager at VoltUp. He has more than 12 years of experience in electrical engineering and manages day-to-day charging-bay operations at VoltUp's Umm Ramool station in Dubai.