Many businesses are now making the switch to fleet electrification, with a range of different motivations. But whatever the reason for transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) it has to be the right time for your business and you have to be prepared. At Total Motion we have specialist expertise in managing different fleets and also making the switch to EVs, so here we have put together a short guide to help you plan towards this transformational change in your fleet management operations.
Of course most businesses considering the switch to an EV fleet are doing so because of the reduced climate impacts that come from driving zero-emission vehicles. But other motivations can include the generous tax breaks available to EV drivers, the environmental compliance issues that help with costs and certification, and the embracing of new technologies which comes hand-in-hand with EVs and which can bring additional benefits in fuel efficiency, safety and connectivity. But regardless of your motivations, some businesses are still hesitant and nervous about switching to EVs.
What your business needs to consider when switching to EVs
The timing of transitioning your fleet to EVs has to be right, otherwise you can face costs in terms of productivity, vehicle financing, compliance and operations. You have to approach this in a considered and strategic manner, and using a process which may even take a number of years to properly execute. Here’s what you need to consider:
- Buy-in – In order to successfully make the switch to EVs, everybody in the business needs to buy-in to the idea and believe in it. This is in order to commit to investing the money and to invest the time in learning new techniques and behaviours. This involves everyone from the boardroom and those committing the funds, down to the drivers and the people on the ground using the vehicles. This can be achieved through training and education on the cost and environmental benefits of EVs, test driving vehicles and securing a range of vehicle options for people to choose from.
- Options – Having a good range of options will help with buy-in, but also in ensuring you have the right types of vehicles for all your operational processes. This will include executive company cars as well as delivery vehicles and service vehicles for transporting people, materials, tools and equipment. These vehicles have to be practical in terms of their everyday uses, but also cost-effective in terms of the distances and types of driving they will be used for.
- Brands – Often using a fleet of vehicles from the same leasing company or under the same vehicle brand will deliver bulk cost benefits. This may also be helpful in terms of vehicle support and service and maintenance, but again, the vehicles have to be right in terms of practicality and cost. As referred to above, company car drivers are more likely to buy-in to the idea of driving EVs if they have a good choice of vehicles.
- Range anxiety – This is traditionally a large barrier to people being convinced about driving EVs, so educating drivers on how easy it is now to plan routes with access to chargers and on the advancements in EV technology—such as faster charging times and extended ranges—can help alleviate these concerns. Additionally you can go one step further to offer training on efficient driving techniques and poor driving habits in order to enhance driver confidence and optimise the performance of electric vehicles.
- Fleet age – How old is your current fleet? Are your vehicles all at the same point of a lease term? How many vehicles do you own/lease? You need to assess your fleet individually to work out when you can sensibly retire each petrol/diesel vehicle and replace it, without incurring unnecessary costs and also taking into account when the new replacement vehicles are available. If vehicles have been sourced by piecemeal over a period of time, this process may take two or three years to complete. But if that is the best way to do it financially, then so be it.
- Total cost of ownership – When looking at finance and lease models, you should consider the total cost of ownership of each vehicle, including servicing costs, tax, insurance and running costs.
- Analytics – Making the switch to EVs might also be a good time to assess your fleet analytics and whether you are getting the best information and analysis from your fleet. EVs come with great in-car tech, so make use of the connectivity and the better fuel efficiency and invest in analytics technology and software that can give you better visibility of your fleet, and enable you to plan journeys and monitor driver behaviour better. Ultimately this will lead to productivity and efficiency improvements and operational cost reductions which further justify making the switch.
Contact Total Motion for support in switching to EVs
Here we have covered all the things you need to consider when looking to retire your petrol and diesel fleet and make the exciting transition to an electric fleet. There is lots to consider and if this is looking like a daunting task, contact our experts at Total Motionand we can help and support you with our unrivalled knowledge to ensure the switch brings the immediate benefits you are looking for.
