Corporate mobility is changing - there's no getting around it. According to the Government’s current timeline, they are ending the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. Or, to put it another way, in as little as two or three vehicle-renewal cycles.
Now’s the time to consider how your fleet needs to adapt to this change. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have forecast that 2021 will be the first year that alternatively fuelled vehicle (AFV) registrations surpass diesel registrations in the UK. We are already seeing this move towards alternative powertrains by our own customers. 2020 was the first year our EV orders exceeded diesel vehicle orders, and we expect this shift towards EVs to continue to increase over the next few years.
It’s not only the Government’s 2030 deadline that is driving the change. With technological advancements made by vehicle manufacturers, Government grants, public pressure and tax benefits designed to help accelerate decarbonisation, there are more and more reasons for fleets and drivers to ‘go green’ now. But there’s still some concern felt amongst fleets in moving away from traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in the short-term.
We know that this transition can be challenging - we’re asked questions daily from both fleet managers and drivers about the transition to EVs. To help, we have pulled together a list of the most commonly asked questions to help you gauge whether EVs might be a viable option for your organisation today, and highlighting some of the ALD Electric products and services that are available to help you on your journey.
Question: The on-the road price of EVs are typically more expensive than their ICE counterparts, is there a way EVs can fit into our current fleet policy?
Answer: We understand that EVs typically have a higher capital cost than similar ICE vehicles. However, lower fuel costs and tax benefits can make running EVs more cost-effective than ICE vehicles. Using our TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) modelling, we can show you how EVs could fit into your existing policy and highlight some of the financial benefits of ‘going electric’ that, at first, may be unclear.
Question: EV choice is currently quite limited, is this set to change?
Answer: The last few years have seen an increase in the number of different models of EVs available to drivers. At the beginning of 2021, there were more than a 120 plug-in vehicle models in the UK - that number is expected to double in the next 18-24 months. The market is responding to new Government policies, consumer feedback and demand. EVs are no longer an obscure corner of a manufacturer's range, they are being designed to fully replace ICE vehicles over the next 10 years.
Question: How do I know if EVs will be right for my drivers?
Answer: The truth is that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) may not be right for all your drivers, and there may even be some of your drivers where plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are not the right option at the moment either. However, we are starting to find that this is becoming the exception rather than the rule. ALD Electric is made up of products and services that can offer real insight into this. For example, our Driver Suitability Survey can identify drivers who are ready to adopt EVs and those who, with a little training or support, could eventually move into EVs. You also have the option to trial EVs in the form of a Blue Fleet Trial, or a simple ‘Try Before You Buy’ programme - offering you a trial of EVs for up to six months so you can evaluate their effectiveness with in your working fleet before making a long-term commitment.
Question: Has the range of electric vans (eLCVs) improved?
Answer: Over the past year or so, eLCV technology has significantly improved. No longer do zero–emission journeys have to be confined to your local area, eLCVs can now offer a larger zero-emission range. For example, the Vauxhall Vivaro E, with the 75kWh battery, now offers a range of up to 205 miles. If you still need more flexibility, then a PHEV may be the right option for you. The Ford Transit Custom PHEV has a zero-emission range of 30 miles and an overall range of 310 miles with the petrol ‘range extender’ engine.
Question: Are eLCV's payloads compromised by the weight of the battery?
Answer: This depends on how you view it. Does an ICE have a better payload compared to its EV counterpart? Yes. However, the question should be - how much do my current LCV’s carry and can an EV meet those requirements? As an example, some EVs have a payload of 1400kg, which is actually better than many current ICE vehicles on the market. By reviewing your operational requirements, we can work with you to identify suitable EV alternatives to ICE vans.
Question: Is investing in EVs and the related infrastructure a good idea? Won't something different come along in the next few years?
Answer: Electricity is the right option for now – we expect things will change but for the next ten years, at least, EVs are the best option available.
Question: Can BEVs travel far enough on one charge to meet our operational needs?
Answer: Battery technology has improved significantly over the past few years. BEV ranges now regularly exceed 280 miles. For example, the Kia e-Niro has a maximum range of 282 miles, the Tesla Model 3 Long Range has a range of 360 miles and the Polestar 2 has a range of 292 miles. These should meet most fleet driver’s needs, and for longer distances the public network is growing rapidly to support the increasing number of EVs on the road.
It’s questions such as these that led us to create ALD Electric. We understand that the switch to EVs can seem daunting, but ALD Electric helps make the transition as smooth as possible. Working with you and your drivers, we can identify challenges so you can address and overcome them prior to the large-scale roll out of EVs into your fleet. Together, we will select the products and services you need, choosing as many or as few as necessary to address your particular mobility requirements. Let us help you shape the future of your fleet.
For more information about ALD Electric, please contact us at roadtozero@aldautomotive.com