For businesses that operate using a collection of vehicles, the choice of using electric models will now become increasingly considerable for many. With the government’s aim for 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold to be zero emission by 2030 and 100% by 2035, it is a wise decision for organisations to make the change sooner rather than later. In this Serconnect blog, we will take a closer look into what an EV fleet is and how to correctly manage one to ensure yours is well equipped for your business’ current and future needs.
What Is an EV Fleet
An EV fleet is a group of electric vehicles owned or leased by a company. Instead of these vehicles relying on fossil fuels to operate, they operate using battery power and thereby help to reduce harmful emissions to protect the environment.
As mentioned above, the UK government’s upcoming legislation means that the switch from petrol and diesel vehicles to electric ones will not be a question of whether your business should make the transition, but when. Doing so sooner rather than later will not only help with an easier changeover but also presents many benefits for businesses.
The Benefits of Using an EV Fleet
Running your business using an EV fleet in comparison to combustion engine vehicles presents many different advantages, including:
- Lower running costs – Electricity is generally cheaper than petrol or diesel, and EVs have fewer moving parts, meaning lower maintenance costs over time.
- Sustainability and compliance – Switching to electric vehicles helps your business to reduce its carbon footprint and comply with regulations such as Clean Air Zones in major cities.
- Improved brand image – Demonstrating environmental responsibility strengthens your reputation with your clients, investors, and employees.
- Government incentives – Grants and incentives, such as the OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme, can help to make the transition to an EV fleet much more affordable.
What Is EV Fleet Management?
EV fleet management is the process of overseeing and optimising a company’s electric vehicles. This ensures that your business continues to run smoothly and that all your vehicles are operating at their best. This begins with choosing the appropriate EV vehicles to match your business’ requirements, and then extends to their regular management of scheduled charging, predictive maintenance, and their most optimal routes.
With the effective management of your EV fleet, you can reduce costs, downtime, and energy waste to ensure that business operations are efficient and reliable.
Our Tips for EV Fleet Management
For effective EV fleet management that accounts for your vehicles’ day-to-day and future needs, we recommend considering the following:
Assess Your Fleet’s Needs
Initially, you will need to start by analysing how your vehicles are used, such as their daily mileage, typical routes, load requirements, and downtime. From there, this will help determine the most suitable mix of vehicle types and battery ranges for your operations.
Plan Your Charging Infrastructure
Keeping your EV fleet operating smoothly is dependent on your vehicles being charged consistently and reliably. An electric vehicle charging hub and infrastructure should be installed at your sites that appropriately account for the charging requirements of your vehicles and the distance they will travel.
Planning effective EV charging electrical infrastructure is best done with an accredited Independent Connection Provider, and involves assessing your fleet’s energy demand, your premises’ grid capacity, and your vehicles’ schedules. These aspects will all influence how many chargers you will need, where they are best placed, and whether slow, fast, or rapid charging speeds will work best for you.
An EV charging infrastructure can also be paired with renewable energy connections, which offer the further benefits of reduced energy costs and emissions.
Account for On-Route Charging and Resulting Downtime
Ensuring that your fleet confidently has enough power to complete its entire route is essential. However, where refill stations for petrol and diesel vehicles are more frequent and widespread, EV charging stations currently aren’t as common – especially in rural areas.
Managing your EV fleet correctly will include planning routes to keep your vehicles supplied with enough power to complete their journeys. Tied into this is the time it will take for your vehicles to recharge along their route, and making sure that they will logistically reach their destination in the time frame required. As a result, the size of your vehicles’ batteries and the speed of the chargepoints used (both along your routes and on your site) will be largely influential factors.
Be Proactive with Maintenance
In comparison to combustion engine vehicles, an EV fleet will be less prone to issues thanks to fewer moving parts. However, regular, proactive maintenance for your electric vehicles will prevent problems from developing further down the line and incurring you higher costs and longer downtime.
Plan for Scalability
A well-managed EV fleet should be able to grow alongside your business. Choosing scalable infrastructure and flexible management systems ensures your fleet can be easily accommodated as it evolves.
Efficient EV Charging Infrastructure Installation at Serconnect
After reading our guide on EV fleets and what the effective management of one involves, you can prepare your business for the future with electric vehicles that accommodate your business’ requirements and are managed optimally.
To ensure your fleet is reliably charged with a dependable system, our electric vehicle charging hub services offer comprehensive installation. Our full range of end-to-end solutions includes feasibility and planning, grid connection, infrastructure installation, testing and commissioning, and more.
If you’re interested to learn more about how we can help to install a convenient EV charging system that’s adapted to your organisation’s needs and is scalable, get in touch with us today. Our experts can work with you to discuss your perfect solution.
