What Roam’s £65 Million Boost Really Means for Fleet Electrification

ZeroMission

The UK’s transition to zero-emission mobility has just taken a significant leap forward. The announcement of a £65 million NatWest-led loan facility to Roam Charging signals far more than another infrastructure investment. For fleets across the UK, it is a powerful indicator that the ecosystem around electrification is maturing rapidly, reliably and at scale.

At ZeroMission, we see this milestone as a clear turning point in how fleets plan, charge and operate in an increasingly electric future.

A Strong Signal: Charging Infrastructure Is Finally Catching Up With Fleet Demand

Fleets have long faced a critical bottleneck: publicly available charging that is predictable, affordable, and aligned with real-world operational patterns. Roam’s expansion into “charge while you park” AC destination charging directly addresses these gaps.

With 5,500 sites already under exclusivity and more than 3,000 chargers deployed nationwide, this £65 million injection accelerates the build-out of the type of infrastructure fleets need to confidently transition away from diesel.

Destination charging at workplaces, depots, residential developments, hotels and retail locations is a game changer for:

• Drivers who park for hours, not minutes

• Businesses operating mixed-use depots or multi-shift patterns

• Fleet managers needing predictable charging windows and lower operational costs

This is infrastructure designed for how fleets actually operate, not just for rapid top ups on the motorway.

Financial Institutions Are Now Betting Big on EV Fleet Growth

One of the most encouraging signals from this announcement is the level of institutional confidence now being placed in EV infrastructure.

NatWest, the National Wealth Fund and Triodos Bank are not just providing finance. They are validating the long-term business case for electrification.

This matters for fleets because institutional investment drives:

• Lower charging costs through economies of scale

• Faster build-out of nationwide networks

• More stable and reliable charging operators

• Greater collaboration opportunities between fleets, landlords and charging providers

Today’s decision by major lenders will be mirrored across the industry, accelerating wider network deployment and giving fleets the certainty they have been waiting for.

AC Charging: An Investment Sweet Spot for Fleet Operations

Roam’s model leverages the sweet spot between practicality and profitability: accessible AC charging.

AC charging offers fleets:

• Lower installation and operating costs

• Predictable energy usage aligned with dwell time

• Less grid reinforcement compared to DC rapid charging

• Better integration into existing fleet workflows

As Sarah Lane from Denham Sustainable Infrastructure highlighted, the financial case for mid-speed AC sites is strong, and for fleets that translates to lower long-term costs and simpler planning.

Supporting the Next Wave of Fleet Electrification

With petrol and diesel phase out targets approaching and EV uptake accelerating, this level of infrastructure investment is not just timely, it is essential.

For fleets, the benefits are immediate and meaningful:

1. Reduced operational risk

More charging locations means less range anxiety and fewer logistical bottlenecks.

2. Confidence to accelerate procurement

Infrastructure availability is often the deciding factor in whether fleets scale EV adoption. This development reduces uncertainty.

3. Better alignment with mixed-fuel operations

AC destination charging fits seamlessly alongside diesel, HVO or hybrid operations as fleets move through staged transition phases.

4. Opportunities for landlords and property owners

Workplaces, depots, retail parks and logistics hubs can now integrate charging more cost effectively than ever.

A Landmark Moment and a Clear Direction for UK Fleets

The NatWest and Roam partnership represents much more than a funding announcement. It marks the beginning of a more reliable, more accessible and more fleet-focused era of UK charging infrastructure.

For ZeroMission and the fleets we support, this is exactly the type of strategic progress the industry needs: infrastructure that meets operational realities, builds driver confidence and makes sustainable transport commercially viable.

As the UK’s charging landscape continues to mature, fleets that combine data-driven planning with emerging infrastructure opportunities will be best positioned to transition smoothly, efficiently and at pace.

ZeroMission continue supporting organisations through this transition, from digital twin modelling to multi-fuel fleet planning and advisory services, ensuring every decision aligns with cost, sustainability and operational performance.