Electricity prices are on a rollercoaster, and fleet operators are along for the ride. The same energy that costs almost nothing in one region can be painfully expensive in another. This summer (2025), wholesale prices dipped below €2 per MWh in northern Norway, while the UK saw spikes above £80. It reinforces how fragmented Europe’s power markets have become.
Even within a single day, prices can swing wildly as demand rises and falls. For operators, this makes it tough to forecast costs. Without a smart charging plan, rising electricity prices can quickly eat away at the savings of electrification.
At one depot, charging 10 MWh might cost less than €20 at 3 a.m. and more than €800 a few hours later. Scale that to a heavy-duty truck fleet, and a poorly timed schedule can add tens of thousands of euros to the monthly energy bill.
The Uneven Landscape of Electricity Pricing
Price volatility is not the same everywhere. In Norway, subsidies soften the impact, though peak-hour penalties still drive costs up. France’s stable nuclear mix keeps energy costs low and predictable. But in markets such as Germany, Sweden, and the UK, where renewables and fossil generation compete hour by hour, volatility is a major pain point for fleet operators.
Germany’s day-ahead market saw price swings 85% higher in early 2025 than the year before, with hourly spikes hitting €600/MWh. In the Nordics, prices plunged 50% in a week thanks to abundant hydropower. Meanwhile, Spain’s grid has seen negative prices during wind surges, underlining again how unstable energy supply and demand can be.
What this shows is that electricity is no longer a fixed input cost. Depending on when and where you charge, energy can be almost free, prohibitively expensive, or priced in ways that penalize for consuming it at the “wrong” time.
Three Ways to Charge Smarter and Cheaper
The good news is that volatility, while disruptive, can be managed with the right strategies.
Volatility may be unavoidable, but it is not unmanageable. Here is how leading operators are adapting:
- Automate charging decisions
Manual planning cannot keep up with hourly market swings. Smart charging platforms that integrate real-time data can automatically pick the cheapest, cleanest charging windows, ensuring vehicles are ready while costs stay low. - Shift charging away from peak hoursTariffs can swing dramatically between day and night. Moving charging to off-peak hours, often overnight, can cut bills by 30–50% without affecting vehicle availability.
- Align with renewable peaks
When wind or hydropower output surges, prices drop. Charging during these windows lowers both costs and carbon intensity. A University of Cambridge study found that reaching 2030 renewable targets could reduce volatility by up to 44% in the UK.
Turning Volatility into an Advantage
A depot that charges at the wrong time risks losing the cost edge of electrification. A depot that plans smartly, on the other hand, can stabilise energy costs, protect margins, and boost predictability.
The difference lies in how charging is scheduled and how data turns into action. Operators that build flexibility into their systems can turn volatility from a threat into a competitive advantage.
The Road Ahead
Volatility will not disappear. If anything, Europe’s energy markets are becoming more dynamic. While structural reforms may smooth out the peaks and troughs, operators must plan for price swings as a normal part of doing business.
Those who use real-time data, flexible scheduling, and automated tools will not only protect themselves but also outperform competitors who react to the market instead of anticipating it.
How Tenix Helps
Tenix helps fleet operators stay ahead of price volatility by combining market data, predictive algorithms, and depot management tools in one platform. The result is smarter charging, lower costs, and reliable fleet readiness, even when the energy market is unpredictable.
