Category: Electric Vehicles

EV batteries are one of the many things that may seem daunting to drivers considering the transition from a combustion engine vehicle. How long can they expect these batteries to last?

Know your vehicle

Whilst it is inevitable that EVs are the future of transportation, drivers do have some reservations. For example, the range of an electric car has often been questioned when compared to a combustion engine vehicle. In addition to this, drivers are concerned about the lack of charging infrastructure.

However, these concerns may die out in the coming years. Battery technology is improving each year, meaning vehicles can travel even further. New charging stations are being implemented, with a huge increase in the number of charge points being seen each year.

Speaking of batteries, however, that’s something else that drivers will need to get used to. What is the life of an EV battery, and can they be replaced?

How do EV batteries work?

Electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries. This is a type of rechargeable battery that has many applications. For example, they are used in mobile phone, laptops and tablets due to their ability to provide consistent, portable electricity.

It’s their recharging capability that makes them ideal for electric vehicles.

Rather than using a single battery, EVs use a collection of thousands of lithium-ion cells.

Charging causes chemical changes within the battery. When the vehicle is in motion, the chemical changes are reversed – that’s what generates the electricity needed to power the vehicle.

What happens to EV batteries over time?

Just like your phone or laptop battery, however, the capacity of your vehicle’s battery will decline over time.

The repetitive cycle of charge (when your vehicle is plugged in) and discharge (when you drive the vehicle) have an impact on the amount of charge the battery can hold. In fact, approximately 20% of your battery’s capacity will be lost after approximately eight years of daily use.

Most estimates put the lifespan of an EV battery at anywhere between 10-20 years depending on a number of factors. The lifespan of these batteries, however, is only going to increase as technology advances.
Given that you can expect your vehicle’s battery to last at least 10 years, drivers should not add the lifespan of the battery to their list of reservations about transitioning to an EV.

When the capacity of your EV battery does eventually stop working efficiently, what does this mean? Can you get a replacement, or is the vehicle set for the scrap heap?

Can you replace an electric vehicle battery?

Luckily, many manufacturers provide a warranty. The length of this warranty can vary, but tend to be around 8-10 years or around 100,000 miles. This means that if something went wrong sooner than expected, there’s a chance your warranty will cover any battery replacement.

Unfortunately the battery is one of the most expensive components in an electric vehicle. Replacing it without a warranty won’t come cheap. Currently, the average cost of replacing a battery is roughly £4,000.

Whilst that seems drastic, there is hope! Just 5 years ago, the same battery replacement would have cost just over £7,000. If this trend continues, the cost of replacement might be quite reasonable by the time the 2030 ban comes around and EV adoption in the UK is more widespread.

What can you do to extend the life of your battery?

Whilst there is nothing you can do to fully halt the depreciation of your battery’s capacity, there are steps you can take to encourage a longer life!

For example, you should avoid leaving your vehicle fully charged or at a low charge for an extended period of time. When your battery is charged around 50%, this is actually putting the least amount of strain on the battery. Therefore, if you know that your vehicle isn’t going to be used for a few days, consider waiting to charge it at a later date. Or, if your battery is low, you could charge it to 50%, and finish charging next time you come to use the vehicle.

Using fast or rapid chargers can also degrade your battery capacity if used frequently. Of course, they are a necessity when making long journeys, but it’s worth keeping this in mind if you want to add some years to your battery’s lifespan.

Whilst there’s not much that can be done about the temperature, extreme heat or cold can also put strain on your battery. Parking in the shade in summer and indoors in the winter could make the world of difference in this regard.

Have you considered making the change to electric?

Whilst yes, your battery may lose capacity over time, this does not negate the many benefits of electric vehicles.

More and more drivers and businesses are going to be using EVs in the coming years. Fears surrounding charging and range anxiety are slowly being put to rest.

Maybe it’s time for you to get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle?

For fleet managers considering the transition, it is natural to be worried about how EVs may affect your finances. You should be doing everything you can to minimise costs, and this is made possible with the Shell Electric Vehicle Fuel Card.  You can save 2p per kWh, access 7,500 charge points across the UK and even use it to pay for regular fuel.

Get in touch today, and we’ll see how we can ease your transition to electric vehicles.

Since hybrid vehicles arrived on our roads, motorists have wondered why they are always paired with a petrol-burning engine instead of a diesel engine.

After all, the idea makes sense. Electric motors are very efficient, and diesel engines give you better miles per gallon than petrol engines, so why not create a hybrid? Surely this would be the most efficient vehicle on the market!

However, upon further inspection, it doesn’t seem so simple.

What is a hybrid car?

If you’ve driven on a UK road in the last decade, you’ll have seen a hybrid vehicle. They have been around since the late 90s but weren’t too familiar. They are now becoming a popular solution to the country’s pollution problem.

Furthermore, their popularity will increase with the government’s announcement of the ban on the sale and production of ICE cars from 2030.

How does a diesel hybrid work?

A hybrid vehicle uses more than one means of propulsion. The most common example is a vehicle with an electric motor and a petrol engine. The electric motor is used at lower speeds, making it very efficient for driving in traffic when stopping and starting. The petrol engine takes over at around 15mph when the vehicle accelerates.

There are multiple types of these vehicles, such as a Parallel Hybrid, Range Extender or a Plug-in.

Hybrid cars Vs EVs

Many drivers find transitioning from traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to fully electric vehicles (EVs) daunting. The prospect of entirely rethinking how you fuel your car, adjusting to new driving habits, and managing the range limitations of EVs can seem like too big a change all at once. Hybrid vehicles are an ideal middle ground.

See the difference between electric or hybrid cars for commercial fleets by clicking here.

 

Why aren’t there many diesel hybrids?

Most of the hybrids you’re likely to encounter use a petrol engine. Considering that diesel is more efficient, it’s worth investigating why they aren’t paired with an electric motor.

There are three main reasons why we don’t see diesel hybrids.

The cost of diesel hybrid cars

As you have probably seen at fuelling stations, diesel fuel tends to be more expensive than petrol. Additional hardware also makes diesel engines more costly to produce and maintain, often due to parts added to help them reduce emissions. A diesel engine costs around 15% more to manufacture than a petrol engine.

Similarly, electric motors are not cheap. Battery backups, high-tech electronics, and powerful motors drive up prices. This is especially true in current circumstances, with global part shortages driving up prices.

Therefore, combining these two engines would result in an incredibly pricey vehicle. Would the extra cost be worth it?

The complexity of diesel hybrid cars

Hybrids are more complex to manufacture, service, and maintain. These factors combined can make diesel hybrids harder to sell than conventional diesel vehicles.

Stop and start factors of a diesel hybrid

One way hybrids work to save fuel and lower emissions is by using the start/stop ignition and occasionally running in EV-only mode. Whereas, due to the way they are built, diesel engines are the cleanest and most efficient when running steady instead of cold starting.

Diesel hybrid torque

Another advantage of a petrol hybrid is how the two engines complement each other.

A petrol engine outputs the most power at higher speeds, while an electric vehicle delivers the most torque at lower speeds. This means that when the car is moving slowly, the electric motor drives it forward. When it speeds up, the petrol engine is designed to handle the higher speeds efficiently.

However, a diesel engine is also great at producing torque lower down. When paired with an electric motor, there is less efficiency. Both motors are fantastic at low speeds, but some serious engineering is needed to make them work at higher speeds.

A petrol engine and an electric motor are proven to complement each other. A diesel engine and an electric motor simply don’t match that!

Less need for diesel hybrids

There is simply less demand for a diesel vehicle to be hybridised.

Petrol engines can convert 25% of their fuel’s energy into kinetic energy, which moves the vehicle forward. Diesel, on the other hand, is more efficient overall. Some diesel engines can convert 10% more than this. This begs the question, why would we need to hybridise a diesel vehicle if it is already more efficient?

Adding an electric motor would not significantly improve the vehicle’s performance and efficiency. Although it would be more expensive, it would offer a minor improvement. Despite all the reasons listed above to avoid creating a hybridised diesel vehicle, a few are on the market.

The Mercedes E300de, the Peugeot 3008, and the Citroën DS5 are all diesel vehicles supported by an electric motor, though they are built differently.

Which is better, diesel hybrid or petrol hybrid?

The decision between a diesel hybrid and a petrol hybrid ultimately depends on your fleet habits, environmental priorities, and vehicle needs.

Diesel hybrids are a better option for fleet drivers who frequently cover long distances, particularly on highways, as diesel engines are more fuel-efficient and provide superior torque for towing or carrying heavy loads. They offer better fuel economy over long trips and can be an ideal choice for those willing to invest in a higher upfront cost for long-term savings on fuel.

On the other hand, petrol hybrids are well-suited for urban environments, where the stop-and-go nature of driving benefits from the smooth, quiet operation of a petrol engine paired with an electric motor. Petrol hybrids are generally more silent, affordable, and require less maintenance, making them a good choice for those prioritising lower initial costs and a refined driving experience. Looking to make your fleet vehicle servicing simpler? Check out this article.

Could your fleet be using hybrid vehicles?

Moving away from internal combustion engine vehicles is an excellent first step toward helping the UK reach its climate goals. However, switching to electric cars can be daunting, as they require a whole new set of skills to manage.

A hybrid vehicle bridges the gap between electric and ICE cars. You’d still refuel the vehicle similarly, but you’d be starting your journey towards net zero.

As the transportation industry continues to evolve, keeping an eye on your costs is essential. Keeping your fuel costs low is especially necessary to monitor expenses. Keeping important, given rising prices.

Discover some other important company car considerations.

Fuel cards for your hybrid fleet cars

Contact Fuel Card Services today. One of our branded fuel cards can save you up to 10p per litre on fuel, and our fleet management services offer other ways to save time and money.

As the UK adopts more and more electric vehicles, there have been questions regarding the country’s energy grid, and whether it can handle the increased strain.

In 2009, 55 electric cars were sold in the UK. Now, in 2021, there are over 515,000 plug-in vehicles on our roads. This consists of around 280,000 hybrid vehicles and 260,000 battery electric vehicles.

This is a huge increase in the adoption of plug-in vehicles, and the country is expected to continue transitioning to low emissions vehicles at a faster rate each year. With that in mind, it is understandable why concerns have been expressed in regard to the energy grid.

Is the grid prepared for millions of people charging their vehicles, all across the country?

Why is the UK adopting plug-in vehicles so quickly?

Of course, climate change is the primary drive behind this transition. The transport sector accounted for 27% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2019.

If we are to reach our climate targets, the transport industry will have to reduce its reliance on fossil fuel burning vehicles and join the EV fleet. They will have to do it quickly too. A report by the CCC estimates that we will need 23.2 million EVs on road by 2032 in order to stay on target.

Whilst we are currently behind this target, it may still be possible thanks to new government policies.

As part of the Prime Minister’s ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution, measures have been put in place to accelerate the shift towards zero-emissions vehicles. These measures include the 2030 ban on the sale and production of petrol and diesel vehicles.

With this ban less than a decade away, many drivers are making the choice to adopt EVs sooner.

There are also grants available from the government to help purchase a plug-in vehicle. The amount offered in the grant depends on the type of vehicle. The government will pay for 35% of the full price of an electric car up to a maximum of £2,500.

Other grants exist, such as the workplace charging scheme, to financially assist businesses looking to install electric vehicle chargers in their places of work.

So, with a massive shift happening on the UK’s roads, how will the energy grid be affected?

Does the energy grid have the capacity to support more charging?

In short, yes.

According to National Grid’s project director, it is expected that electricity demand would increase by 10% if the entire country switched to EVs overnight and started charging.

Some might argue that 10% is a huge increase. However, increased reliance on off-grid energy sources such as solar panels has helped the country to rely less on the energy grid. In fact, the UK’s peak demand has fallen by 16% since 2002.

Basically, if we all started charging our cars today, we’d still be putting less strain on the energy grid than we were 19 years ago!

When is the best time to charge my vehicle?

Whilst the grid could certainly handle the demand if all vehicles were charged at once, this would be less efficient.

The grid sees the most demand between 6pm and 10pm. This is when most people return home from work; they’ll be switching lights on as it gets dark and using appliances.

When someone returns home from work, they will likely put their vehicle on charge straight away.

However, this may not be ideal. Having peaks and troughs of energy demand isn’t as efficient as having a balanced demand throughout the day.

Currently, the grid’s peak demand is between 6pm and 10pm, but then this quickly drops as people go to sleep. Overnight, demand is much lower than average. This means certain systems must be turned off, in order to not supply too much power to the country.

Therefore, the best time to charge your electric vehicle may be just before you go to bed. If cars were left charging from 10pm to 6am, this would fill in the huge gap in demand. Night time charging would also mean there isn’t an increased strain on the grid during the peak hours, which already require a lot of power.

When the demand is more balanced throughout the day, the system works more efficiently, meaning electricity costs will actually be lower for the consumer.

Are you ready for electric vehicles?

The UK seems to be well prepared for the changes ahead. When will you be making the transition? Are you a fleet manager considering adopting a fleet of EVs?

We now offer a host of EV solutions, designed to make your EV transition as easy as possible. We’ve got EV Charge Cards that offer your business the same convenience of a fuel card, and we can now help you to make smart decisions about how you manage your vehicle charging.

Get in touch with Fuel Card Services today to see how we could help you. We can keep your fuel and charging costs low, and our fleet management services are to help your fleet work at maximum efficiency.

There’s no denying that the next decade will see many changes on our roads as zero emission vehicles become commonplace.

This change is not without government backing. In fact, a team exists within the government to support the UK’s transition – the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles.

Who are the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV)?

OZEV is a team within the government working to support the UK’s transition towards electric infrastructure. The office is comprised of staff and funding from the Department for Transport, as well as the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The office is responsible for advising ministers on matters concerning the transition to low emission vehicles. Their goal is to improve access to charging by supporting the rollout of charging infrastructure in order to make the transition more convenient and viable for consumers and businesses alike.

What are they specifically doing that could be of benefit to your business and fleet?

The Workplace Charging Scheme

OZEV operates the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS). This provides support to businesses, charities and public sector organisations looking to install electric vehicle charging points.

The WCS offers businesses up to £350 per socket for up to 40 charging sockets.

Your business can apply for the scheme if you meet the following criteria:

• Are a registered company.
• Must be either a public authority, or have received less than €200,000 of public support within the last 3 years.
• Can either declare a need for charging equipment, or show intent to encourage EV uptake among staff or fleet.
• Are located within the United Kingdom.
• Have dedicated off-street parking.
• Either own the property on which the charging points will be installed, or you can provide proof of consent from the landlord.

As of July 2021, the scheme has funded over 13,000 charging point installations.

In addition, drivers who personally own an electric vehicle can apply to the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme, which offer £350 to help towards installing a charging point at home.

Research and innovation

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles also funds and supports the research of emerging technologies. They hope that the UK can use the results of this research to “exploit and lead globally”.

Their goal is to use this research to make the most of the environmental and economic benefits that the country will see as we make the transition to a zero emissions infrastructure.

The government is set to provide £1.3 billion by 2025 in hopes of supporting the roll-out of charging points on motorways and A-roads, as well as in homes and businesses.

By 2023, OZEV aims to see a minimum of six high powered charge points at each motorway service area. By 2035, the government office expects to see 6,000 high powered chargers on the motorway network.

This is promising progress. Research suggests that the UK will need to install five times as many charging points as it has right now, if we are going to meet our climate goals.

Later this year, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles will release their Infrastructure Strategy. This will outline how they plan to support the charging infrastructure rollout needed to achieve the 2030 phase out of carbon burning vehicles.

What is the 2030 ban on fossil fuel vehicles?

The government announced in 2020 that the sale and production of petrol and diesel cars would be banned in 2030.

This ban is just one step in the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan to revolutionise the UK’s industries and infrastructures to be more environmentally friendly, and make progress towards reaching our climate goals.

The ban was initially set to happen in 2040, only 10 years before the country aims to reach net zero. Pressure from green groups saw the ban brought forward to 2035, then again to 2030.

OZEV is the driving force behind ensuring that the UK has the infrastructure in place to support this change.

Many drivers have felt nervous about making the change to a low emissions vehicle. Fears about range limitations and charging speeds put a dent in the reputation of EVs. Drivers were worried that, compared to their fossil fuel burning vehicle, an EV would only travel a portion of the distance they required before having to stop at a charging point, which could take hours to get the battery up to full capacity.

With OZEV’s support and planning, however, these worries will likely subside in the coming years. The workplace and home charging schemes, as well as their funding towards public charging points will mean all drivers have easy access to EV charging.

How can Fuel Card Services help your business transition to EVs?

Businesses should ensure their fleets have easy access to the right charging facilities. On top of that, reducing fleet costs is equally important.

Our range of fleet management services can help your business save time and money, and ensure your operations run smoothly and efficiently. Get in touch with our team of experts today and see how we could help your business.

June of 2021 saw orders for electric vehicles overtake orders for traditional combustion engine vehicles at Zenith. This is the first time that the company has seen a statistic like this in its over 30-year history.

Does this increase in orders indicate an overall change on the UK’s roads in the years to come?

What vehicles were ordered?

Zenith is a business that leases vehicles to some of the largest organisations in the UK. Businesses might hire cars, LCVs or HGVs from Zenith to help bolster their fleet.

The company declared that 54% of their orders were attributed to electric vehicles in June. This time last year, EVs only accounted for 32% of their orders, which shows a dramatic increase over the last 12 months.

Interestingly, the most dramatic increase in demand can be seen in orders for electric vans. In June 2020, only 1% of van orders were electric. In June 2021 however, 69% of ordered vans were electric! This shows a massive increase in interest and demand for EVs amongst fleet operators and drivers.

Zenith partly attributes this increase in demand to their salary sacrifice scheme. Since employees making use of this scheme have to pay a benefit-in-kind tax, an electric vehicle makes more sense for those wishing to spend less in the long term.

Is an increase in EV demand to be expected?

Electric vehicle orders surpassing ICE vehicles is a trend that is likely to become more common for leasing businesses. However, it is interesting since some have expressed that a statistic such as this has come sooner than they expected.

In the UK, that electrification of our transportation infrastructure is considered to be quite inevitable.

Whilst some are surprised to see electric vehicle popularity increase at a high rate, others argue that this is to be expected. With many manufacturers such as Jaguar and Lotus declaring that they will only be selling electric vehicles before the end of the decade, forward thinking drivers might see the inevitability of EVs and purchase one sooner rather than later.

The BBC predicts that, much like the internet in the early 2000s, the growth of the electric vehicle market will not be a slow and steady one. It’s possible that we will see a massive growth in the next few years that transforms our roads and transportation industry.

If this is the case, it is important that fleet managers are ready for it.

Why might the electrification of our roads happen so quickly?

Whilst ICE vehicles have still got plenty of time left, their phasing out is approaching for a number of reasons.

The government plans to ban the sale and production of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030 onwards. This is being done as part of a “green industrial revolution”, where the government is striving to tackle climate change and create jobs in cleaner, more sustainable industries.

From 2030, however, you can still sell your old ICE vehicle to someone else. You just won’t see any brand new petrol or diesel vehicles rolling out of car dealerships after that point.

There is the argument that developments in synthetic fuels will prolong the life of ICE vehicles, especially since they emit less harmful gases.

The most common conceptions against the adoption of electric vehicles are also being chipped away. For example, many drivers have refused to consider making the switch to an electric vehicle due to their range limitations.

However, there are now over 15,000 charging locations with 42,000 charging points in the country. This number increase dramatically year on year. It’s now just as easy to charge your electric vehicle as it is to fill up your petrol vehicle. Of course, battery lives differ between vehicles and charging can take up to an hour, but massive improvements in both of these areas are expected to be made within the decade.

Are you ready to make the switch to EVs?

Whether you plan to make the switch now or in a few years, it’s worth planning ahead. There are currently plenty of financial benefits to moving your fleet over to EVs.

However, in the meantime, it’s also important for fleet managers to focus on cutting costs now. Get in touch with Fuel Card Services and find out how we could help. We offer a range of fuel cards as well as a host of fleet management services designed to save you time and money.