Five Ways Fleets Can Effectively Transition To EVs

With the 2030 ban on the sale of new ICE vehicles, the transition to EVs is inevitable. Here’s how fleets can make the transition as painless as possible…

Know Your Incentives

There are a number of incentives that fleets can take advantage of when it comes to EVs. The government, seeking to drastically reduce the transport sector’s carbon footprint, has made a number of incentives available in order to promote the adoption of cleaner vehicles.

As it stands, fleets based in the UK can get £1,500 off of electric cars priced below £32,000. They can also receive £2,500 and £5,000 grants for large plug-in vans and smaller vans respectively. Given the rapid rise in popularity of EVs in the country, it’s likely incentives will be continually scaled back – so time is of the essence.

Monitor Driver Performance

As with any vehicle, EV efficiency is a question of how they’re driven. Which is why it’s crucial that businesses monitor the performance and driving styles of their drivers. Whilst ICE vehicles convert just 30% of energy to forward propulsion, the figure rises to around 70% to EVs. This figure can be improved further still by making use of regenerative braking – which sees EVs utilise the spinning of the electric motor to generate electricity; which is ultimately fed back into the battery.

It takes time for drivers to adapt to a new powertrain. So, educating them in terms of regenerative braking and other battery-related considerations can make a big difference in the long-term.

Think About Battery Life

EV batteries, just like the batteries in ICE vehicles, deteriorate over time. However, there are a variety of things that can increase, or decrease, their lifespans; and it’s crucial that drivers are familiar with them. Repeatedly charging an EV to 100% may seemingly make sense, as it reduces the need to stop. But doing so can prematurely wear out its battery due to the constant strain. Indeed, many automakers suggest charging to 80% for optimal battery health.

Fast chargers are also becoming more common in the UK. These are much more powerful than their regular counterparts. For those in a hurry, they can make all the difference. But using them repeatedly, and without good reason, is a sure way of wearing out a battery.

Plan Around Charging Infrastructure

Unfortunately, there’s still very much a ‘postcode lottery’ in the UK when it comes to charging infrastructure. Regional discrepancies mean that public chargers are largely concentrated in the south of the country, or in and around city centres. This can cause problems for regular motorists, but for businesses the situation can be critical.

It’s crucial that businesses identify what sort of infrastructure is in place in their area of operations. How accessible is it, how much does it cost to use and is it available at the times your drivers will need them? Home chargers are enormously useful for EV drivers, business or otherwise. Many fleets are getting them installed at their employees’ homes, as it’s often cheaper than installing them at workplaces.

Centre Total Cost of Ownership

In the transition to EVs, the total cost of ownership (TCO) is everything. The cost of EVs is still higher than their ICE equivalents, although it is falling. However, businesses should focus on total costs – factoring in long-term savings; especially when it comes to fuel, maintenance and the fines avoided via the likes of Ultra-Low Emission Zones.

For larger fleets, it won’t take long for savings to become apparent. After all, a typical petrol or diesel vehicle has thousands of moving components. For an EV, there could be as few as 20 or 30. Think of EVs as an investment, from the start to end of their lives.

AA Wants Tax Breaks For EV Drivers Without Off-Street Parking – https://autoservefleet.co.uk/latest-news/aa-wants-tax-breaks-for-ev-drivers-without-off-street-parking/

Cupra Wants To Double Its Global Sales In 2022 – https://autoserve.co.uk/motoring-news/cupra-wants-to-double-its-global-sales-in-2022/