Switching your fleet to Electric Vehicles? Here are 6 things you need to consider…
The number of plug-in vehicles on UK roads has risen by a staggering 35% in 2023, as drivers increasingly opt for EVs and plug-in hybrids over internal combustion (ICE) vehicles.
According to data from Gecko Risk, there are now more than 890,000 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) on UK roads - with Tesla, Volkswagen, and Nissan being the most popular manufacturers.
This dramatic shift isn’t isolated to consumers, either - ownership of electric LCVs and vans also increased by 20% year-on-year, as more companies began their transition to low emission fleets.
Switching to electric is a huge transition for any commercial fleet to make, no matter their size, location, or industry. It means reconsidering every aspect of how your fleet operates, from driver training to route planning and accident management.
In this article, sopp+sopp discuss some of the key things fleets need to consider when transitioning to electric vehicles - from how they decide which vehicles to buy, to how they manage and maintain their new electric fleet.
6 things to consider when transitioning your fleet to EV…
Here are six key things to consider when making the move towards an all-electric fleet - helping you to overcome operational challenges, and reap the benefits of electric commercial vehicles
#1 - Choosing the right vehicle makes, models, and specifications
Just like when purchasing ICE vehicles, it’s important to consider which makes, models, and specifications of electric vehicles best suit your fleet’s long-term needs.
This isn’t just about assesing day-to-day performance like weight or battery range, but also the potential cost of maintaining vehicles long-term.
According to Gecko Risk, the average cost of repairing an EV has remained above £2,600 per repair over the last four years, but this varied highly by vehicle manufacturer.
For example, the average repair cost for electric Mercedes Benz vehicles was far above the EV average, sitting at Just under £3,000 repair over the past four years, compared to Volkswagen’s average of just over £2,300.
It’s therefore critical to use industry data to evaluate which makes and models are most cost-effective to maintain, and how long their repairs take on average. Using this insight to inform your purchasing decisions will help you control the long-term costs of your EV transition, and prepare your supply chains accordingly.
James Fisher, Director at Gecko Risk explains:
“By understanding the specific challenges and financial risks associated with certain EVs, industry stakeholders can evolve their fleets in line with emission targets, whilst making the best decisions for their businesses, and minimising future outlay.”
sopp+sopp’s partnership with Gecko Risk allows us to provide in-depth EV insights to support our customers’ operational strategies - such as vehicle popularity, average repair costs, and parts lead times. This helps our customers to choose the right vehicles for their fleets’ requirements, prepare their supply chains, and secure a seamless transition to commercial EVs.
Get in touch to find out more about sopp+sopp’s partnership with Gecko Risk, or email the team at Gecko to learn more about their EV data solutions.
#2 - Comparing the costs with your current ICE fleet
Any change in your fleet’s vehicle stock will affect operating costs to some degree. This is even more vital to consider when switching from internal combustion vehicles (ICE) to EVs, as there are many specific costs, and equally savings, associated with electric vehicles.
To truly understand the cost implications of transitioning to an EV fleet, you’ll need to estimate the ‘total cost of ownership’ per vehicle, and compare this with your current ICE stock.
This should incorporate everything from the purchase/lease price, to investment in charging infrastructure, and the long-term costs of maintaining and repairing the vehicle.
Combining all these projected costs will provide a like-for-like comparison with your current ICE fleet, helping you understand how switching to EVs will impact your day-to-day expenses.
#3 - Involving your drivers in vehicle testing & decision making
No matter the size of your fleet, it’s always important to actively involve your drivers in your EV transition, and gain their buy-in before key decisions are made.
Start by surveying your drivers to understand their appetite for EV adoption. This will help you to understand which drivers are most keen to take up EVs, and which have concerns - both of these groups are a great source for pre-launch driver testing.
Select a group of drivers to test your shortlisted vehicles in their day-to-day jobs. Make sure to use a wide range of participants - across different locations and cohorts.
Their feedback be invaluable for understanding your fleet’s key obstacles for EV adoption, as well as highlighting the day-to-day benefits.
Steve Winter, Fleet Management Consultant at Appleridge Consultancy, explains:
“Driver engagement is of paramount importance for fleets, especially when introducing electric vehicles.
“Your drivers will pick up on things that it’s impossible to consider from a top-down perspective, like the day-to-day driving experience, and on-the-job performance. These are things you’ll only encounter by using the vehicle on a daily basis.
“Gaining driver buy-in is vital if you want to ensure a seamless transition to EV. Their vehicles are their workplaces, after all, so they should always be central to your strategic decisions.”
#4 - Preparing your suppliers, and gaining their perspective
Any change to your vehicle stock requires communication and input from all ends of your supply chain - from driver training providers to accident management partners.
This is even more critical where EVs are concerned, as there are many fundamental differences in how they operate, the technologies found onboard, and their repair and recovery requirements.
Make sure to communicate with your suppliers well in advance of your EV transition, and take on their suggestions to inform buying strategies, infrastructure decisions, and mitigate operational challenges.
This is key for facilitating a smooth transition to electric vehicles, ensuring your fleet and its suppliers can hit the ground running with your new vehicle stock.
Be sure to ask specifically for any data they can provide to inform your EV transition, including their approach/provisions to similar fleet customers who are switching to electric vehicles.
#5 - Investing in EV charging infrastructure
Switching to an all-electric fleet requires investment in the necessary charging infrastructure, such as fast-charge stations and at-home charging kits.
This is a significant investment for any fleet, and getting it right is crucial for avoiding added costs and operational challenges further down the line.
Consider where charging is needed most - is it at your drivers’ homes, at your depots, or on your company/office premises? If you’re only able to provide a limited number of charging points, it’s important that these are positioned in the places most convenient for your drivers.
Also consider what kind of chargers you’ll need at different locations - whether this is multi-vehicle charging stations, cables, sockets or otherwise.
At home charging can be a complex issue to address, given that not all of your drivers will be able to accommodate charge-point installation. There’s also the issue of who pays for and owns charge points at your employees’ homes, as well as if/how electricity is reimbursed. This could even require changes to employment contracts, making it a vital consideration in the early stages of your EV transition.
#6 - Adapting your accident management strategy
As mentioned previously, electric vehicles have more complex repair and recovery requirements when compared with their ICE counterparts. There’s also much more you’ll need to consider when triaging the vehicle post-incident, such as potential damage to the battery or high-voltage powertrain.
This means adapting your accident management strategy from start to finish - from the questions drivers are asked at FNOL stage, to the types of recovery and repair techniques you utilise.
You’ll need to ensure every step of your accident management process can meet the enhanced requirements of EVs - and get them recovered safely, and repaired quickly & effectively post-incident.
Your accident management and vehicle repair partners should be able to assist with this, ensuring the necessary procedures, tools, and methods are in place for your new EV fleet.
sopp+sopp & GeckoRisk - A Partnership to Support your EV Transition
sopp+sopp’s partnership with Gecko Risk allows us to provide in-depth EV insights for our customers to inform their commercial EV transition, and build a compatible accident management strategy.
This includes in-depth insights around vehicle popularity, average repair costs, and parts lead times - which can be used to inform proactive, future-proofed vehicle purchasing decisions.
This helps our fleet customers to choose the right vehicles for their requirements, prepare their accident management process & supply chains, and secure a smooth transition to commercial EVs.
Get in touch to find out more about sopp+sopp’s partnership with Gecko Risk, or email the team at Gecko to learn more about their EV data solutions…
