Category: Electric Vehicles

With the need to adopt the use of electric vehicles increasing each year, so does the need to consider how fleet management will be affected.

Fleet managers have been overseeing petrol and diesel vehicles for decades. This new type of vehicle, however, comes with a whole new list of challenges.

Why should fleets make the change to electric vehicles?

Firstly, the UK government are planning to ban the production and sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in 2030. As a result, we can expect to see a huge increase in the use of electric vehicles by the end of the decade.

Depending on your location, making the change to electric vehicles can have financial benefits. The Ultra Low Emission Zone in London now means that any vehicle not meeting the emissions standard will have to pay. This can be a charge of up to £100 depending on the size of your vehicle. The range of this zone is set to expand, as well as similar zones being introduced in other cities such as Birmingham and Glasgow.

A sudden transition to electric vehicles could put a strain on fleet management. Therefore, one might consider a slow changeover. Swap out your fossil fuel burning vehicles in favour of electric vehicles slowly over the next few years. This would not only mean you are prepared for the future, but will also have time to adapt to the challenges that come with managing a fleet of electric vehicles.

What should fleet managers be aware of?

At this point in time, a newer electric car might get you between 200-300 miles before it needs recharging. Older cars will of course give you less range. This anxiety about the lack of range is usually cited as the main reason for not making the transition.

When combined with the fact that there are limited charging points in the UK, this can be a real cause of worry for fleet managers.

However, both of these factors are set to improve in the coming years. Battery technology is constantly developing; we’re seeing increased capacities each year.

Furthermore, you can expect to see more charging points across the country. Companies such as Allstar are working to make recharging electric vehicles as convenient as possible with over 1500 locations in their UK network.

How can fleet managers adapt to range limitations?

The most sensible decision a fleet manager can make to prepare for the electric revolution is to acquire an electric fuel card.

With a fuel card, your fleet could be managed with great efficiency. Cards such as the Allstar One Electric offer the same benefits as a regular fuel card. This card (along with similar cards offered by BP and Shell) allows you to pay for petrol and diesel as well. For fleets making a slow transition to zero-emission vehicles, this removes any anxiety managers might have about having to keep track of two separate accounts.

You would be given access to one invoice, meaning you don’t need to keep hold of receipts. The spending of each driver in your fleet could be easily monitored.

Suppliers of electric fuel cards are continuing to add more charging stations to their network, and finding charging points for your fleet would be easier than ever with some great charging point locator apps on the market. As with fuel, it is important to plan your drivers’ journeys with charging stations in mind.

With the range limitations of electric vehicles being a primary concern, knowing that your fuel card will help you manage the charging of your fleet can alleviate a lot of stress.

What else should you know about electric vehicles?

When managing a fleet of electric vehicles, there are other aspects to consider that will affect their range.

Do your research before committing to a specific vehicle. The advertised range may be exaggerated as it was tested in ideal conditions. If the stated range of a vehicle is 200 miles on a single charge, be safe and assume it is closer to 150. As your fleet uses these vehicles, you will become more accustomed to their range capabilities and can make adjustments accordingly.

Chargers

Different charging stations will offer different types of chargers. New variants, such as the Ultra-Rapid DC charger, are able to recharge electric vehicles to 80% in 20 minutes depending on the vehicle. When planning your fleet’s route, consider which stations provide access to the quickest chargers. It might be efficient to go slightly off route to charge quickly than to stay on course and charge at a point that takes up to 2 hours to charge.

Weather conditions

When planning your fleet’s journeys, it pays to be mindful of the weather. A colder battery is more resistant to charging, so will take longer. Of course, UK weather does not make this an easy task, but allocating more charging time during the winter months is a sensible practice to get into.

Battery drainage

The rate at which an electric vehicle’s battery will drain depends on multiple factors. Ensure that your drivers are aware of how efficient driving can improve their range. Softer breaking and consistent, lower speeds will help maintain charge. Economy modes are available in some models, but this often comes at the cost of acceleration.

Conservative use of accessories such as air conditioning or heating will reduce drainage. Heating the interior of the car whilst still plugged in is a good option; the driver can maintain comfort without draining precious power.

Eventually, your fleet of electric vehicles will need their batteries replaced. They lose capacity over time just like a phone battery. Some car batteries could last for up to 10 years, but vehicles in constant use like taxis or buses would need their batteries replaced in half the time.

Armed with this information, fleet managers can combat the range limitations of their vehicles. As electric vehicle technology continues to improve, so too will they become easier to manage. To find out more about how you can improve your electric vehicle management, get in contact with our team for expert advice.

 

The UK’s shift to a low-carbon economy is well underway. Yet amid concerns that original plans weren’t ambitious enough, it’s now clear that the pace of this change is accelerating. This means businesses have less time than they may think to adapt their operations to the new way of thinking.

This will affect many aspects of how firms operate, but one particular focus will be on their transport operations. Fleets will have to start moving toward a low or even zero emission future quickly. If they don’t, they risk falling foul of new rules, being left behind by competitors, or facing large additional costs.

The coming changes to the UK’s transport network

The UK’s transportation network will be at the heart of the drive to a carbon-neutral future. According to government figures, the transport sector accounted for 27 per cent of UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2018. What’s more, 90 per cent of this came from road traffic, so it’s clear this will have to be a top priority when developing a low-carbon economy.

That’s why the government is bringing forward plans to move toward electric cars. It’s committed to banning the sale of any new fully petrol or diesel vehicles by 2030 – a decade earlier than previously expected. While some hybrid models will still be allowed after this date, these too are expected to be phased out by 2035. While for now, second-hand sales are unaffected, it will mean fleet buyers have to rethink their plans.

At the same time, the use of low-emission zones in many towns and cities is also set to become more commonplace. If you’re still relying on a heavily petrol and diesel-based fleet, this could mean it becomes prohibitively expensive to operate in urban areas in the coming years. Therefore, you’ll need to have at least some of your fleet using low or zero-emission vehicles to avoid this.

Do you need a zero-emissions fleet?

If you’re planning on buying new vehicles after 2030, you won’t have any choice but to go electric or hybrid. But you shouldn’t be waiting until this date to make plans for a zero emission future. Firms that run electric vehicles (EVs) can already take advantage of reduced running costs, lower emissions and a better reputation among customers.

Many larger brands are recognising the benefits of a zero-emissions approach to their fleets. Parcel delivery firm DPD, for example, which runs a large fleet of vans, added over 700 EVs to its fleet in 2020. This means more than ten per cent of its vehicles are now electric. By 2025, the firm aims to reduce its final-mile emission by 89 per cent, using EVs only for 25 of the UK’s largest towns and cities.

Chief executive of the firm Dwain McDonald said: “We know retail customers want this and the reaction on the doorstep is great when recipients see that their parcel has been delivered emission-free too. So, that is a great base for us to build on.”

It’s clear, therefore, that if companies want to keep customer satisfaction high, adopting a zero emissions goal for their fleets will be essential. They will also have to do this sooner rather than later – not just to meet regulations, but to keep up with competitors.

The challenges of moving to electric vehicles

Of course, moving to an all-electric fleet is easier said than done. There will be a range of challenges involved in this, and it’s not something you should be attempting to do all at once.

Among the questions you’ll have to answer when adopting these vehicles are:

• Where and how will these vehicles be recharged?
• How do you reimburse drivers for electricity usage?
• Will employees have to change their driving styles to use EVs efficiently?
• Should you install dedicated charging points – and if so, how much will these cost?
• Will drivers be resistant to EVs?
• Will you have to alter your route planning to take into account charging points?

With careful planning and communication with employees, many of these issues can be overcome. And the sooner businesses start thinking about this, the better placed they’ll be when EVs are the norm.

One issue will be charging speeds. Traditionally, ‘refuelling’ EVs with power is a much lengthier process than dropping onto a forecourt for a couple of minutes. But this is beginning to change. Charging technology is improving all the time and fuel brands are also starting to focus more closely on this area.

BP Pulse for example, recently announced a new partnership with The EV Network that will greatly expand its fast-charging infrastructure. The company is aiming to have 16,000 charge points by 2030, with a particular priority placed on ultra-fast chargers.

Managing a mixed fleet

Another challenge will be how you manage a mixed fleet of petrol, diesel and electric vehicles. This can be especially challenging when it comes to managing the expenses associated with keeping cars on the road.

However, there are an increasing number of solutions available to help with this. For example, more companies are developing electric fuel cards that can help fleet managers keep control of their EV cars and vans. In the coming years, these will be essential for many businesses in ensuring their employees can keep their electric cars ready for whatever the business demands of them.

Shell, for example, has introduced a new EV card that can be used at any of its Recharge points throughout the UK. There are currently over 100 of these, but the brand is aiming to have more than 5,000 such charging stations operational by 2025.

Having fuel cards that offer cost savings and ease of use for all vehicles in a fleet, whether these are petrol, diesel, hybrid or full electric, will be a key priority for many businesses in the coming years. With an EV-first environment closer than many firms think, they will have to plan now for the future.

If you want to know more about how to incorporate electric cars into your operations, get in touch with Fuel Card Services today for expert advice.

In a recent deal with Gronn Kontakt, Allstar have secured an additional 47 charging sites to their network. These sites add 110 charging points to Allstar’s multi-branded network.

Gronn Konakt, an electric vehicle charging company, are owned by Statkraft. This is Europe’s largest producer of renewable energy and is owned by the Norwegian state.

For customers of the Allstar One Electric card, this deal is great news. They now have access to these 110 charging points. This is the 8^th network of charging sites to be added to their network. Users of this card now have access to over 1500 locations in the UK with 3700 individual charging points.

The Allstar One Electric card includes the benefits received by customers of the Allstar One card. Customers are not only given a way to pay for the use of charging stations, but are also given access to Allstar’s massive multi-branded network of fuelling stations with savings on diesel.

Why do we need more electric charging points?

These additional charging sites are a response to the government’s plan to ban the sale of new petrol or diesel cars and vans in 2030.  The ban is part of a 10-point plan for a “green industrial revolution” set out by the UK Prime Minister.

Along with a shift towards nuclear power and the development of towns heated entirely by “low carbon” hydrogen, the government hopes to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles and invest in electric charging infrastructure.

Therefore, over the next few years, businesses will be making the transition to a fleet of electric vehicles. The Prime Minister has said that some hybrid vehicle will still be permitted for development, which is an attractive option for HGV users who might be concerned that an electric vehicle can’t match the power of a vehicle that uses diesel, for example.

Allstar have stated that 30% of their customers have already switched to electric vehicles in their fleet. A further 65% of their customers plan to make the transition over the next 3 years.

With so many electric vehicles being introduced to the road, we can expect to see more charging stations in the near future.

Reducing charge point and range anxiety

These extra charging sites will greatly reduce anxieties regarding electric vehicles.

Users of electric vehicles have often expressed concerns about running out of charge during transit. Research also shows that electric vehicle users are now more anxious about being unable to find a point to charge their vehicle.

These anxieties have been putting fleet owners off the idea of transitioning to electric vehicles. Different vehicles also require different connectors when charging. Because of this, fleet owners who desire convenience would much prefer to stick with fuel powered vehicles until a universal charging method is commonplace.

However, adding more sites to the UK’s network of charging points means drivers have less cause for worry. They will have more options as to where they can charge their vehicle and are less likely to run out of power.

Once a fleet owner is convinced that their drivers will have access to enough charging points, and charging is as convenient as filling up a tank at fuel pump, they will be much more likely to transition to electric vehicles.

How can you prepare for the 2030 ban?

Over the next decade, you can expect to see a huge increase in electric vehicles on the road. Since the government plans to phase out diesel and petrol vehicles, electric vehicles are the inevitable future. It’s worth considering how your fleet can adopt the use of electric vehicles.

If you’d like to know what you can do to prepare for this transition, get in touch with our team. We’re happy to help.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are coming. Sales of these models have been showing impressive growth recently, helped by improving technology and wider consumer acceptance. Indeed, more than one in ten cars sold in the UK 2020 were electric – a 66 per cent increase from 2019.

For now, petrol and diesel will continue to make up the majority of business fleets. These fuels are familiar, convenient and – with a good fuel card – cost-effective. But sooner or later, fleet managers will have to start looking at EVs. And this will mean new challenges as well as benefits.

Why the future is electric

A key reason why more people are going electric is because they’ll eventually have no choice. A government deadline is looming. After 2030, the sale of new petrol or diesel-only cars will be banned in the UK, though some hybrid models will still be allowed.

Carmakers have been responding to this. In just the last few weeks alone, the likes of Ford and Volvo have announced they intend to become all-electric by 2030. Jaguar is even more ambitious, aiming to remove new petrol and diesel models from its range by 2025.

Most firms, however, shouldn’t wait until they have no choice before looking at electric cars.

Thinking ahead means you’ll be much better-prepared for the time when it’s electric or nothing.

The benefits of going electric

The two major selling points of EVs are their environmental benefits and the potential for cost-savings. Some figures suggest busy users could save more than £1,000 in running costs, while fully-electric cars are also exempt from vehicle excise duty.

It can also boost your reputation among customers, who are keen to support companies that are making efforts to go green. What’s more, employees are in favour of this too.

According to research by Go Ultra Low, 70 per cent of employees want their company to offer EVs. What’s more, 63 per cent would prefer an electric car if they had the option. As well as the reduced running costs, more than half of company drivers (53 per cent) cite the environmental benefits as an appealing factor.

Some fleet managers might be concerned that they are losing the benefits of their fuel card by switching to EVs, but this is no longer the case. With an EV Charge Card, you can continue reaping the benefits of a fuel card, and it can also be used to pay for regular fuel!

The challenges facing electric fleet managers

However, EVs are not without their issues for fleet managers. And one of the biggest questions will be how you ensure they’re kept fully charged and available at all times.

While battery technology – and therefore range – has improved hugely in recent years, getting caught low on energy away from a charging point is still a concern for many. According to research by Venson, 69 per cent of motorists are worried by a lack of charging infrastructure. Therefore, this is always something you have to plan for.

You also need to factor in maintenance costs. As many electric cars are still relatively new, long-term costs are still unclear, but there are a few things to consider. On the plus side, because there are no moving parts or oil to change, day-to-day costs will often be cheaper. However, replacing a battery pack could cost thousands if it becomes damaged in a bump.

Where can I charge electric vehicles?

For most fleet managers, the number one issue will be charging. While there’s still work to do, the UK’s infrastructure has come a long way. There are now more than 35,000 public electric vehicle charging points around the UK at 13,000 locations, and the numbers are growing all the time.

In 2020, around 7,000 new connections were added to the network. Importantly, the biggest increases were in 150-350kW charging points, which promise much faster charging.

Many fleets will need to recharge their EVs overnight at on-site electric vehicle charging stations to ensure they have enough range for the following day’s activity. However, for those times where this isn’t possible, such as long-distance drives, you’ll need to take into account access to charging points when planning routes.

Drivers will also need to be equipped with electric vehicle charging cards to avoid any complex later expenses claims.

How long will charging take?

It’s still true that charging takes significantly longer than filling up a fuel tank with petrol or diesel. But the difference is not as big as it once was.

While it can still take up to eight hours to fully charge an EV, rapid chargers can offer 100-200-mile range in less than 30 minutes. This means if a driver is caught with low battery, they should at least be able to recharge enough to make it home, wherever they are.

There are a few factors to take into account when it comes to electric vehicle charging. These include:

• The size of the battery
• How many miles you do between charges
• How you charge, such as topping up often or charging from low to full
• The power rating of the charger

Should I install dedicated charging points?

If firms are going down the electric route, installing dedicated fast-charging points on site may be a necessity. You can’t rely on public electric vehicle charging stations to provide the fast, reliable service you need to stay on the road.

Charging points could be located at a compound for commercial vehicles or in an office’s car park. This will require an upfront investment, but some of these costs can be claimed back using the government’s Workplace Charging Scheme. This allows for a grant of up to 75 per cent of the cost of a socket, up to a maximum of £350 each and no more than 40 sockets across all a firm’s sites.

What about home charging?

If employees use company EVs kept at their home, they’ll likely charge them there more often than not.

This can bring its own range of issues. For example, how does the firm compensate employees for their use of domestic electricity? And what about the charger itself?

Using a standard mains outlet and three-point pin should only ever be a last resort, as it’s the slowest possible way of charging an EV. This means many employers will therefore need to assist with the cost of installing a home charging point. This can be made more complex if a landlord’s permission is needed or there is no off-street or garage parking available at the employee’s home.

However you charge EVs – at work, at home or at public charging sites – you’ll need the right tools to make it simple and cost-effective. We can expect to see more electric vehicle fuel cards become available in the coming years. However, if you want to know more today about how to add electric vehicles to your fleet and manage them alongside existing petrol and diesel cars, take a look at our EV Solutions.

Need help making your EV transition easier? Take a look at our EV solutions, where you can get help with charging at home, or get an EV Charge Card to make charging on the road cheaper and more convenient.