Industry experts are on hand to ensure the most informed decisions are made when it comes to preparing a business and its drivers for the electric future. By John Challen.

Nick Hardy, sales and marketing director, Ogilvie Fleet

Nick Hardy, sales and marketing director, Ogilvie Fleet

The challenge of transitioning to an electric fleet might seem a daunting one to fleet managers, due to the ever-changing regulations, constant evolutions in technology and the rapidly expanding range of available electric vehicles.

To combat these challenges, Ogilvie Fleet has introduced an open-source hub for EV knowledge, the MiNextEV electric vehicle database. The online tool allows users to explore and compare all passenger cars and vans either currently on the market or soon to be launched. Vehicles are searchable by price, range, efficiency, charging speed and battery capacity.

It contains information and guidance on regulations, tax implications and infrastructure surrounding the purchase and running of EVs, including a vehicle tax guide, featuring an online BiK calculator app.

Furthermore, in response to the vehicle delays due to the global parts shortage, Ogilvie realised a fresh approach was needed to manage an unprecedented situation for our customers.

To avoid frustrations of long and unpredictable delivery dates, particularly around EVs, a lead-time generator tool was developed. Using rolling analytics gathered from our own order bank – and data from across the industry to generate a lead time estimate for vehicles – it can accurately show current lead times per manufacturer and model. Allowing forecasting accuracy of between 2-3 weeks, it removes guesswork from fleet managers looking to ensure mobility for their drivers in the year ahead.

As the transition away from internal combustion is one that will affect all motorists in the UK, not just Ogilvie Fleet drivers, it was decided from the outset that the MiNextEV tool would always remain open-source and free to use for all. While we constantly strive to provide our customers with the latest EV technology, advice and support, we are happy to help other motorists, whether private or business drivers, along the electrification journey.

Matthew Lumsden, CEO of Connected Energy

Matthew Lumsden, CEO of Connected Energy

More EV vehicle chargers are needed in the network, including those with higher capabilities. But the grid was not designed to supply this much power.

If demand exceeded current supply, fleet managers previously had two options. The most straightforward and affordable option is load-balancing, where a network of smart EV chargers divides the energy available to ensure that all EVs will still receive some charge, but at a slower rate. However, this can lead to driver frustration or disruption to workplace operations.

The second option is paying for a connection upgrade from the distribution network operator (DNO). However, this can cost a lot and entail long lead times as DNOs are working flat out to address growing demand. These costs and delays are leading to fleets postponing or slowing down electrification.

But there is a third way. If a DNO upgrade is cost-prohibitive or time-consuming, fleet managers should consider battery energy storage systems (BESS) as an alternative. BESS can provide the buffer a site needs, ensuring vehicles can be charged at their full rate and removing the ‘charge anxiety’ of load balancing. It can also integrate with on-site solar to make the most of renewable energy generation, storing that energy for use during peak periods.

When a site is constrained and requires additional power at certain times, a BESS can act as a reservoir to supplement the power drawn from the grid. This is especially useful for depots which can experience peaks and troughs in demand.

BESS can help make grid-constrained sites suitable for EV charging hubs by ensuring the business case stacks up. They can also help the circular economy by reusing batteries from end-of-life EVs, which can still have up to 80% of their original energy storage capabilities.

Alan Bastey, decarbonisation and sustainability consultant, Zenith

Alan Bastey, decarbonisation and sustainability consultant, Zenith

Fleets have a shared objective — to transition to zero-emission vehicles. The need and desire for sustainability is ever present, but economics will always come first, so the move must work for drivers and businesses alike. However, as a fleet changes, so too does the landscape in which you operate.

Using the favourable Benefit-in-Kind position for ZEVs and enabling a driver-led transition for drivers, either through an open choice policy or salary sacrifice scheme, can build some momentum towards the switch. This can be cost neutral, has low operational risk and is the ideal testbed for managing mileage reimbursement and charging policy before tackling business-critical fleets.

Vehicle choice is also improving, particularly for cars. In our recent EVXperience survey, which looked at the lived experiences of over 3,000 electric car drivers, only 15% mainly use their EV for trips of more than 60 miles.

Getting the right solution on how drivers will access and pay for the energy they need is key. Fleet operators must consider the full charging ecosystem, covering home, office, hub and the public network. There is also a great opportunity in the digital nature of energy consumption to centralise and automate payment or reimbursement.

Decide where to draw the line on providing essential infrastructure and financial support to clearly define what is an operational requirement of the business and what is the employees’ responsibility. And particularly when it comes to supporting the commuter or benefit of home charging.

Fleets must evolve – and it is important to keep the objective within reach and at a pace that can be achieved. Collaboration is key to a successful transition, so speak to leasing companies and specialists who can provide the right technical support to meet both cost and sustainability targets for the business.

Mike Palmer, client development director, Nexus Vehicle Rental

Mike Palmer, client development director, Nexus Vehicle Rental

The widespread adoption of electric vehicles will play a pivotal role in securing a greener, more sustainable future, particularly as businesses look to reduce their carbon footprint.

The transition requires care and consideration. There will be bumps in the road – and businesses will need to make smart choices to make the EV motoring switch as seamless as possible.

Choosing the right vehicles is imperative. It’s important to consider factors such as range, payload capacity and charging time. Consider the routes drivers take and choose a vehicle with enough range to cover them comfortably. And make sure it has enough space to carry the goods or equipment required. Renting an EV prior to purchase is a good idea.

It’s also crucial to understand the infrastructure of a business as well as future plans to evolve it. Charging infrastructure is critical when it comes to the successful adoption of EVs. Ensure that the right charging points are installed in convenient locations for drivers, such as at depots or customer locations. Currently, the lack of infrastructure to support EV adoption on a wider scale is a nationwide problem, so businesses need to consider whether they have the facilities and infrastructure to fully support a transition to electric.

Finally, businesses need to optimise their operations. Initially, making the switch to EVs will require a large upfront cost to purchase the vehicles. While renting prior to purchase can help reduce costs initially, eventually businesses will have to make the permanent switch. Having business operations aligned with the EV switch will greatly help make the process smooth and painless. Optimising the routes a fleet will follow, so that there are charging points on that route if needed – monitoring vehicle performance and driver behaviour – can help businesses organise their operations and fleets better with this information to hand.

Jon Timmis, director of risk & acquisition, EZOO

Jon Timmis, director of risk & acquisition, EZoo

To ensure the most informed decisions are made when preparing a business and drivers for the electric future, consider the following:

• Instead of committing to long-term leases or purchases right away, consider short-term business EV leasing. This option allows fleets to assess whether EVs are suitable for the business before making an investment.
• Seek assistance from EV experts, who understand the range and capabilities of the available models and can assist in selecting the right EVs.
• Consider how many miles each vehicle will do and with what payload so that charging can be planned in.
• It will always be cheaper (and often more effective) to charge a fleet on the company’s own charging infrastructure, ideally in combination with creating ‘fuel’ with the use of wind/solar panels. A reliable partner for installation is essential here.
• Transitioning to EVs involves educating drivers on how to maximise vehicle efficiency and range. It is vital to provide good quality driver training programs that help your team understand EV technologies, charging protocols and optimal driving practices.