Fleet management for electric vehicles

At the moment, the future appears to be all-electric. If you’re in the process of considering converting to an all-electric fleet, you should still be looking for the best ways to save money and maximise the potential of the fleet.  We will take you through the ways we think fleet management for electric vehicles could work best for you and your business. 

Electric vehicle research

As a fleet manager, your primary goal is to save the company money. Knowing which EVs are going to work best for the needs of your business are going to take some research. If you are in the process of switching and need one to one advice, you can contact Fleet Support who offer guidance on large fleets. Funding is also offered by the Department of Transport and services are offered at no cost to the organisations or businesses seeking help. 

While you may already be in the process of making the switch in stages, others will be eagerly watching and waiting to see how the market progresses as you prepare to take the plunge. Building your electric fleet in stages is a tactical decision and gives you the chance to sort out operational issues as they arise. 

The Energy Saving Trust recommends that you update your fleet in sections, perhaps starting with company cars, taking advantage of the benefit-in-kind tax rates. They also recommend that you as manager set targets to ‘define your vision and track progress.’

Purchase price versus whole life costs

Whilst you are certainly going to find the initial outlay for an electric vehicle considerably higher than its Internal Combustion Engined (ICE) counterpart, you are going to save money further down the line. 

Know the whole life cost. Most managers who have made the decision to replace fleet cars with electric vehicles either one by one or in their entirety will have done so to save money in the long term.

The lower cost of electricity compared to petrol and diesel reduces the whole life cost of the vehicle. Our research shows that it costs around £7 to £10 to charge an electric vehicle to 80% at a public rapid charger. 

Know what you are entitled to. There is a range of government grants out there that you can access, in addition to this there are tax breaks you can access too. The Energy Saving Trust has links to a range of government schemes available to help.

Know the range

Know your fleet range. Making sure the electric vehicle fleet is going to be able to match the daily range your fleet experiences, is vital. Calculate the daily average of your ICE fleet and make sure the electric vehicle fleet can match it. 

You will also want to look at how often your current fleet is driven over a certain mileage threshold. The Energy Saving Trust also have a really handy tool to help you manage mileage so you really know how the cross-over will work effectively and if the electric vehicles are going to be able to hold up range wise. 

Do be wary though, that there are various other factors to think about. There is a reduction in the range with electric vehicles at higher speeds. Your traditional fuel engines are more efficient at higher speeds than electric vehicles. If your fleet is going to be driving mainly long distances at high speeds, you going to find it less likely that you will mee the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure). This is basically the lab test used to measure fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Know your charging requirements

Knowing how you are going to charge the electric vehicles and being confident that they are going to be able to do what you need is vital. 

If your vehicles return to base each night, making the most of on-site charge points could be convenient. If this is something that could work for you, look into the Government's Workplace Charging Scheme. 

In addition, know which charge points are going to work for you. Most of the home and public charge points are 3.7kw and for most fleets, this will suffice. Whilst you might feel compelled to go all in and install the 22kw charge points, they are not always suitable for fleet models. 

Know how long charging is going to take. It might take more than an hour to fully recharge a vehicle but a quick 15-minute charge at a scheduled stop might mean you get to the expected destination. 

It’s also worth looking into smart charging (using more intelligent management of the charge point), and talking to your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to find out about the electricity grid capacity at your site. If your site is low on spare grid capacity, the number of electric vehicles you can charge will be impacted. 

It’s worth finding out about the public charging network in your area too. These are dotted all over and also strategically placed on motorways. Ideally, meaning your fleet could re-charge on the go.

Know your drivers

Remember that whilst you might see the benefits of converting the fleet to electric vehicles, not all your drivers will. Communicate clear advice, explaining the financial, carbon and air quality benefits. Keep them abreast of the fuel savings, grants for home charge points and potential benefit-in-kind savings. 

Offer your drivers the chance to familiarise themselves with new vehicles. Electric cars have a growing reputation for being a pleasurable drive. Prepare a simple set of instructions providing your drivers with practical help and advice on driving an electric vehicle. Leave them in the cars with a list of helpful numbers or contacts should they be needed.

Know your data

Keep on top of your data. Knowing performance data is going to help you determine the level of success of your electric vehicle fleet. If you are rolling out electric vehicles in stages, the data will determine the pace at which you should move. Knowing how and where to improve means fleet management will operate more smoothly — for you and your fleet.