Logistics and distribution centre · Electric vehicle charging
Electric vehicle charging in logistics and distribution centre: what the SRI measures
Charging is about three things: how many parking spaces have a charging point, whether charging is managed smartly on grid capacity and price, and whether users get information on availability and consumption.
In short
- 1This page shows how the Smart Readiness Indicator assesses electric vehicle charging in logistics and distribution centres.
- 2For this building type, the EV charging domain carries maximum weight: 3 out of 3 points.
- 3The three smart-ready services address charging capacity, grid balancing, and user information.
Weight of this domain for this building type
Which services count
| Service | Lowest level | Highest level | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| EV Charging Capacity EV-15 · A · 5 levels | Not present | > 50% of parking spaces has recharging point | highest level |
| EV Charging Grid balancing EV-16 · A · 3 levels | Not present (uncontrolled charging) | 2-way controlled charging (e.g. including desired departure time and grid signals for optimization) | highest level |
| EV charging information and connectivity EV-17 · A · 3 levels | No information available | Reporting information on EV charging status to occupant AND automatic identification and authorization of the driver to the charging station (ISO 15118 compliant) | highest level |
Worked example
If everything in this domain is at level 0, the domain contributes nothing. At the highest level for all services, the indicative total score for this building type rises by about 4 percentage points (from 32 to 36 percent, with all other domains at level 1).
Why does charging carry such high weight in a distribution centre?
The Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) distributes the score across nine domains. For logistics and distribution centres, the electric vehicle (EV) charging domain receives the maximum weighting factor of 3 out of 3.
This reflects the building type. Distribution centres have large parking and charging areas and growing electric truck fleets. Grid connection is often the limiting factor, not space.
Which smart-ready services are measured?
Within this domain, the SRI tests three smart-ready services using method A, the simpler assessment method with fewer functionality levels than method B.
- EV-15 Charging capacity: from no provision to more than half of parking spaces with a charging point.
- EV-16 Grid balancing: from uncontrolled charging to bidirectional charging, where the vehicle also supplies power back to the grid.
- EV-17 Information and connectivity: from no information to automatic driver identification at the charging point.
Each service receives a functionality level from 0 to 4, though these three services use a more limited scale. The levels are then weighted using impact criteria, including energy efficiency and user convenience.
What does this mean for the building's score?
Because charging carries the highest weight here, the quality of these three services determines a large part of the building's overall SRI score.
A distribution centre with only a power outlet scores low on EV-15 charging capacity. Intelligently controlled charging based on grid capacity, as in EV-16, significantly raises the score.
The final score falls into one of seven classes, from below 20 per cent to 90 to 100 per cent. For buildings over 290 kW of installed power, the SRI is expected to become mandatory from 30 June 2027 onwards.
What this means for you
- Owner
- As owner of a distribution centre, it is worthwhile to view charging infrastructure not as a standalone facility but as part of your building management system (BMS). Intelligently controlled charging reduces peak load on the grid connection, which is often the real constraint when expanding your fleet.
- Tenant
- As operator or tenant of the building, you will mainly notice whether charging points are available when you need them and whether you gain insight into your vehicles' charging status. At a higher functionality level, your vehicle is automatically identified at the charging point, without manual login.
- Advisor
- When assessing, focus on the percentage of parking spaces with a charging point and whether charging is controlled in one direction or both directions, as this difference determines the functionality level of EV-16. Also verify whether the grid connection and the delegated act of 2027 affect the building automation requirement for installations over 290 kW.
Next step
Want to know where your building stands?