Unless you have purposely avoided any environmental news at all in the last year or so you will be aware that the law on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles is about to change. From 2030 you will no longer be able to buy any new petrol or diesel cars in the UK. The sale of hybrid vehicles will also be phased out by 2035. Read our handy guide to EV Fleet Management to be ahead of the curve!
However, this isn’t the only thing that may have a very big impact on your business if you are using fleet vans or fleet cars. There will be a number of new charges that will likely be brought in over the next few years as more political pressure is exerted on those in charge to cut carbon emissions.
We have already seen petrol and diesel hit record high prices this year. The cost of traditional fuel will only continue to rise as supply falls due to smaller demand.
You can expect more taxes and other costs, such as stricter low emissions zone rules. You may be far more restricted on where you can enter with a petrol or diesel vehicle, something that is sure to have a negative impact on some businesses that have not made the switch.
There is also the highly likely prospect of lower petrol and diesel availability. In 1990 there were around 19,000 petrol stations. In 2000 this number had fallen to 13,107 and by 2020 the number of petrol stations was just 8,380. It is estimated that many of these petrol stations will close long before the 2030 ban comes into effect.
With fewer cars on the road needing petrol or diesel, multinational corporations, such as BP and Shell, will be looking to cut their losses, maybe even converting some of the stations into charging stations. Petrol and diesel fleets will be useless if you cannot fuel them or send them to where they need to go.
Who Has Already Made the Switch to Electric Fleets?
There are many companies that have already switched to electric fleet cars or electric fleet vans. There are many others who are in the process of switching and have made pledges to be fully electric by 2030.
There was a time when the only companies with electric fleets were the milkmen in their electric floats up and down the country. And thank goodness they had the sense to use a silent method of travel. I don’t think they would be too popular if they were waking people up at 5 in the morning.
However, now it is seen as the right thing to do. It is even ‘on trend’ in places like America. Some big brand names that have already switched include Google, Apple and Amazon. Busses and other public transport companies are switching to electric modes of transport in towns and cities. Royal Mail, BP, BT, Direct Line Group, Scottish Power and Tesco have all pledged to become fully electric by 2030 as well.
These companies are just some of the bigger names to be making the transition. A large number of small companies and public bodies have already made the switch as well.
Which Vehicles Will Suit Your EV Fleet Management Needs
Good EV fleet management requires finding the right vehicle to suit your business needs. Not every company will have the same needs. A company that delivers big packages will look a bit silly if they obtained a fleet of Renault ZOEs. A charitable organisation will probably get a bit of a lashing if they turned up to pick up charitable donations in a fleet of Porsche Taycans or Teslas. Below are some ideas of what vehicles would be suitable to different business requirements.
If your business requires vehicles to carry a lot of equipment or large packages, the Vivaro-e would most likely be the most suitable vehicle. Maybe even a Renault Kangoo would be the correct vehicle for you if you just have a small amount of work equipment to carry around with you.
If your business has a number of staff that are required to go to many meetings during the week, the Renault ZOE or the BMW i3 would make an excellent choice for a run around car.
Maybe you have a successful business with a small number of high flyers who require a car that will make an impact on your customers. Then why not go for the impressive Porsche Taycan or the Tesla Model 3. These higher end cars make a positive green credentials statement as well as being impressive vehicles to look at or ride in.
Let’s look at some of these vehicles in more detail.
Renault ZOE GT Line R135
The Renault ZOE is a firm favourite when it comes to established electric cars. Very similar in size and shape to the Renault Clio and very easy to operate. The Renault ZOE GT Line R135 is the top of the line when it comes to the ZOEs. The car is comfortable and spacious inside, complete with 5 seats. And more importantly, it has a range of 220 miles which is essential to many business users.
Plus, there’s up to 40% off all of our ZOEs right now!
BMW i3
A lot of what I have said about the Renault ZOE also applies to the BMW i3. It’s a small car that is perfect for runaround jobs. The big differences are that the BMW i3 is a 4-seater car rather than a 5-seater. It also looks very different from the standard cars you see on the road. Also, with a range of up to 190 miles, this is a very versatile electric car.
Renault Kangoo
Not to be confused with an outback marsupial (what a sight that would be), the Renault Kangoo is a solid, no thrills, old school small work van. With 3.6 cubic metres of space and a load capacity of 640kg, the Kangoo has a very generous amount of space in the rear for work equipment. This van is best used as a local work van rather than for longer journeys. This is due to the 112 mile range on the van and that it cannot take rapid charging.
Vauxhall Vivaro-e
The Vauxhall Vivaro-e is a large van with a big load capacity. If you are transporting a large amount of goods or large work equipment, then this is the electric vehicle for you.
With 9.6 cubic metres of load space, and a capacity to hold 1,002kg, the Vivaro-e is a real workhorse that is capable of handling big loads.
Travelling around in the Vivaro-e won’t be an issue either. With a 190 mile range and the ability to charge from 15% to 80% in just 20 minutes using a 100kW charger, the Vivaro-e is a van that can take on big distances as well as big jobs.
What EVision Electric Vehicles Can Do For You
Here at EVision Electric Vehicles we have a wealth of experience in helping companies with their EV fleet management. Particularly when it comes to the transition to electric vehicles. The subject of electric fleet vehicles was the most common question asked at the Fully Charged Outside Show this year.
Our EV experts are on hand to provide advice on vehicles that will meet your fleet requirements. They can also talk you through the benefits of long-term hire and the perks available should you take on a number of our electric vehicles.
One such perk that we offer is free charge points for long-term hires. Being able to charge at home or at your place of work (wherever the vehicles will be kept) is a huge advantage and convenience over charging on a public network. Although you will have to pay to have the points installed, the cost of the charge point itself is completely removed which will save your company even more money.
Now is the time to act. So get in touch with EVision and ask about our EV fleet management solutions.
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* All information correct as of 08/12/2021.
