Electric Vehicles Archives

Electric car tax benefits: what you need to know

Posted on 2nd June 2021 | by Simon Pavey

If your business is still reliant on petrol and diesel vehicles for your day-to-day operations, there has never been a better time to make the transition to an electric fleet.

Recent trends in company vehicle preferences and changes in government tax rules and incentives should leave you in little doubt that the future of commercial transportation is electric. So it’s worth doing some research and finding out more about the financial and tax advantages of electric cars.

The shift towards electric fleets

A third of fleet managers across the UK expect more than half of their company cars to be electric in five years’ time. That’s according to a survey by Go Ultra Low, a joint government and industry campaign focused on promoting the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

Seven out of ten fleet managers and decision-makers said they were planning to buy an electric car within two years. Half predicted an increase in the adoption of EVs in commercial fleets as a result of changes to benefit in kind (BIK) taxes on electric cars, which we explore in more detail below.

According to Go Ultra Low, the fleet sector accounted for more than half (53.3 per cent) of the UK’s 2.3 million vehicle registrations in 2019 and is viewed as a “pivotal player in accelerating EV adoption”.

Poppy Welch, head of the campaign, said: “There are around 60 electric models now available and most are able to travel more than 200 miles on a single charge. The decisions fleet managers make about EVs today will be critical in driving mass adoption tomorrow.”

In November 2020, the government said the UK had taken “another historic step on the road to ending its contribution to climate change” by announcing the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the country by 2030.

These developments suggest that any business hoping to keep up with the accelerating move towards a zero-emissions future needs to plan the electrification of its fleet.

For many companies, this will be a major undertaking that requires a lot of thought and planning. On the positive side, there are many advantages of electric cars, including financial incentives that will help your firm’s bottom line.

Electric car tax advantages

Taxation is one of the key topics you’ll need to take into account when you’re considering the various financial benefits and costs associated with electric fleets.

As far as road tax on electric cars is concerned, the good news is that government measures recently brought into effect will keep rates to a minimum for the near future. Company car tax (CCT) on electric cars was reduced to zero in 2020-21 and will be set at one per cent in 2021-22 and two per cent in 2022-23.

There have also been changes in the rules covering vehicle tax for hybrid cars, with the government introducing five new CCT bands for plug-in hybrid vehicles that emit 1-50g of CO2/km. These bands are designed to provide the biggest tax incentives for EVs that have the greatest electric range, meaning they can drive longer distances with zero emissions.

Furthermore, it was also confirmed recently that fleet operators buying vans and trucks will benefit from a new ‘super deduction’ tax relief. The Treasury said this deduction will allow companies to reduce their tax bill by up to 25p for every £1 they invest in new plant and machinery, subject to certain criteria.

A spokesman for HM Revenue and Customs told Fleet News that heavy and light commercial vehicles can qualify for this benefit if they meet relevant conditions – being new and unused, for example.

Benefit in kind taxes and electric cars

BIK taxation is another key area you should be familiar with if the electrification of your fleet will be a priority for your business in the coming years.

Company car tax essentially has two components: what the business pays and what the employee pays. The amount the organisation pays is based on the value of the vehicle (known as its ‘P11D’ value) and its CO2 emissions. Your national insurance contributions also relate to your fleet’s emissions and the P11D value of your vehicles.

The employee’s tax liability is slightly more complicated and takes into account their company car’s P11D value and BIK band, as well as their individual income tax bracket.

For example, someone in the 20 per cent tax band, using an electric car worth £30,000 that falls in the one per cent BIK band, will pay £60 in BIK tax. Since the BIK bands are higher for cars that emit more CO2, users of these vehicles will be subject to higher tax rates.

According to Go Ultra Low, a company car driver using an electric Peugeot 208 would save the equivalent of £8,063 in BIK tax over a typical three-year agreement, compared to the petrol model.

The government has confirmed that BIK brackets will be kept low for electric cars over the coming years. The rate is due to increase to two per cent in 2022 and will stay at that level until the 2024-25 tax year.

Capital allowances

Companies are able to claim capital allowances on cars they buy and use to do business. This means you can deduct part of the value of the vehicles in your fleet from your profits, thereby reducing your tax bill.

Like BIK taxes and national insurance, the allowances you can claim for your fleet partly depend on your vehicles’ CO2 emissions. Between April 2015 and April 2018, it was possible to deduct the full value of new cars with emissions of 75g/km or less. In April 2018, this threshold dropped to 50g/km, and since April 2021 only zero-emission cars have qualified for a full deduction. This provides a strong incentive for businesses to shift to EVs if they want to make the most of capital allowances.

Salary sacrifice

Another concept to consider as you progress with the electrification of your fleet is salary sacrifice. This allows employees to exchange part of their salary for a non-cash benefit, such as a company car, and can be a good way to encourage adoption of EVs.

People who choose to take part will have a single monthly payment to cover costs such as leasing, maintenance and insurance taken from their pay every month, before income tax and national insurance. This can be mutually beneficial for employer and employee, since the business pays less in national insurance and supports the shift towards zero-emissions motoring, while the worker pays tax on a reduced portion of their salary.

As the transition towards EVs and fully electric fleets gathers pace in the coming years, it will become increasingly important for businesses to stay up to date on changes to taxation and financial regulations relating to electric cars.

Passing this information on to your employees and proactively promoting the use of EVs will help to ensure your business keeps up with the times.

Want to know more about how you can save money through switching to electric vehicles? Get in touch with our expert team today!

A picture of a petrol station against a sunny sky

How will petrol stations change as we move to electric vehicles?

Posted on 26th May 2021 | by Simon Pavey

Petrol stations have been a part of the landscape for almost as long as there have been cars on the roads – the first one was opened in Berkshire by the AA way back in 1919.

However, with the increase in electric and hybrid cars in a bid to make the country greener, fewer people are likely to need petrol and diesel going forward. So, what will this mean for Britain’s infrastructure of refuelling stations? Let’s take a look.

The rapid expansion of EVs

Electric vehicles (EVs) are currently enjoying a boom in take-up rates. Analysts estimate there are more than 200,000 currently on Britain’s roads, with at least a million expected to be in use by the end of 2022.

Worldwide, the International Energy Agency suggests this could equate to 300 to 400 million EVs out of two billion total vehicles by 2040.

In the UK, this take-up is partly being driven by the government’s policy to end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, even though there is not yet a timeline for the suspension of fuel sales.

However, for many people, a major stumbling block in changing from combustion engines to EVs has been range and the ability to top up mid-journey. No-one wants to be caught out without power on a longer trip, so some have opted to wait rather than taking the plunge.

This could be set to change, though, as a new network of refuelling stations evolves to offer customers not only recharging options, but also a lifestyle hub fit for the 21st century.

A new breed of refuelling station

Today, data from Zap-Map shows there are 8,471 charging locations for EVs across the UK. In contrast, the number of petrol stations has dwindled to 8,400, demonstrating the rapid roll-out of the necessary technology to top up greener vehicles.

Co-founder of Zap-Map Ben Lane said: “The public and private sectors are now investing heavily in the UK’s EV charging infrastructure to ensure that there are sufficient charging points to support the growing electric fleet.”

Indeed, the Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill introduced in 2017 made it mandatory for motorway services and large fuel forecourts to install EV charge points. This came after the European Parliament said there should be at least one charger for every ten cars on the road if EVs are to become a viable alternative to traditional cars.

Since a cluster of two or more charging points is essentially a refuelling station, many providers have been making the decision to provide dedicated facilities for EVs that could shape the future of our vehicle-based technology infrastructure.

After all, since most drivers are familiar with stopping at a petrol station and refilling, the act of stopping at an electric hub for a battery top-up isn’t too much of a stretch for the imagination. And with motorways offering the combination of longer journeys and the need to stop to stretch the legs, many of these EV hubs are likely to be alongside such major routes as an alternative to traditional service stations.

Major providers changing their offerings

A number of major brands in the transport industry have already been making headway in terms of offering EV charging fuel stations. For example, Shell aims to have 200 Shell Recharge points on its existing forecourts by the end of 2021.

However, in 2020 it said it has even loftier ambitions than this. The brand revealed it wants to see true energy hubs going forward, where drivers are directed into EV charging bays and offered airport-like facilities featuring coffee shops, parcel collection points and meeting rooms while they wait.

“We call it Project Evelyn – an energy hub where you can recharge yourself and recharge your car,” said Shell’s Bernie Williamson.

This vision of the future forecourt being far more than just somewhere to charge up is shared by BP Chargemaster, which also recently unveiled its plans to partner with Marks & Spencer to provide retail facilities alongside its charging points.

Meanwhile, Nissan has opened the first of its planned 100 EV-only service areas in Essex, offering users shops, cafes, meeting room pods and a wellbeing area to make the most of while they wait.

How will EV charging fuel stations work?

Electric car charging times are clearly longer than the time it takes to fill up a traditional car with petrol or diesel, but drivers will still need to recharge and go before too many hours have passed.

Refuelling stations will therefore typically offer power points to provide:

Fast charging – three to four hours
Rapid charging – 30 to 60 minutes
Wireless charging – not available in the UK yet, but being pioneered in Europe for future use without cables

In terms of payment, it is likely that most dedicated hubs will eventually offer a ‘payment by subscription’ model similar to the way an ‘all in one’ fuel card works for fleet drivers today. Users may drive up to a power point and swipe a card to select a charging option and pay.

Although the cost to charge an electric car will undoubtedly be more at a hub than it would at home, drivers will undoubtedly be willing to pay for the convenience – a rapid charge is likely to cost more, yet get them back on the road again in less than an hour.

Going forward, the government has called for all new rapid chargers to incorporate contactless payment, so it’s likely that charging sessions will be managed via apps before too long.

Interestingly, after so many years using traditional forecourts, it may be that it’s the etiquette drivers need to adjust to, including:

Moving vehicles as soon as batteries are full
Not unplugging other vehicles
Stowing cables safely after use to prevent trip hazards

What about rural forecourts?

It’s easy to see this being the end for old garages in rural locations, as they’re usually far from motorways and therefore not somewhere drivers would need to stop mid-journey.

However, spokesperson for the Irish Petrol Retailers Association David Blevings told the Irish Times this needn’t be the case. He pointed out that most petrol stations don’t rely solely on fuel income and could therefore be in a good position to provide the experience-led forecourt necessary going forward.

What’s more, rural refuelling hubs could be essential for customers who don’t have off-road driveways and to manage demand for the power grid.

The future?

EV technology is still developing and both governments and power providers will undoubtedly have kinks and issues to iron out before these forecourts of the future can truly come to fruition. However, as more people embrace the green revolution, it’s becoming increasingly likely that they will become science fact rather than science fiction in the not-too-distant future.

When you pull into the forecourt with your new electric vehicle for the very first time, you’ll want to be sure you’re getting the best deals possible. With the Shell Electric Vehicle Fuel Card, you’ll get 2p off each kWh.

Get in touch today, and we’ll help your fleet make the transition to EVs.

3 white electric cars in a row, each connected to a charging point

The cost of electric cars for UK fleets

Posted on 14th May 2021 | by Simon Pavey

A common myth surrounding electric vehicle fleets is that they will cost your business more than fossil fuel burning vehicles. This is the main reason why 50% of fleet managers are cautious about making the switch.

However, when we break down the cost of electric vehicle fleets, it becomes clear that this caution is not completely justified.

What is the true cost of operating electric vehicles?

The ‘on-the-road price’ is a term commonly used to describe the true cost of an electric vehicle. This comprises not only the list price, but also the cost of other factors such as fuel, insurance, and road tax. Essentially, it’s the real-world cost of buying the vehicle and being able to legally drive it, which is always higher than the list price of an individual vehicle.

Whilst it’s true that the initial cost of purchasing an electric vehicle could be steeper than buying a new diesel vehicle, this shouldn’t put fleet managers off. Once you’re managing electric vehicle fleets, you’ll realise the extra cost was worth it in the long run.

Let’s break down the key costs associated with electric fleet vehicles. While there are a range of different vehicles available in market today based on engine-size, carrying capacity, and business purpose, we’ll use a Citroen C4 as an example to illustrate costs.

The cost of purchasing an electric car in the UK

Based on 2021 data, the diesel version of a Citroen C4 has an on-the-road price of £26,040.

This vehicle’s electric counterpart, the e-C4, has an on the road price of £29,680.

Consequently, the EV model costs around 12% more than a diesel counterpart, which in turn is likely to cost slightly more than a petrol equivalent.

Typically, electric cars tend to RRP from around £28,000 – with no cap as of yet and some lower-priced exceptions to the rule.

The cost per mile of an electric car

You’ll find the cost per mile of an electric car will vary depending on the make and model of the vehicles and generally a better measurement of cost for EV journeys is taken at the charge point.

Mile per kilowatt-hour (MPkWh) is the amount of miles you’ll get from an hour of charge. Similar to a petrol or diesel vehicle, the more charge or “fuel” your electric car can hold then the further it can take you. Like the cost of miles to the gallon of fuel, MPkWh price will vary depending on where you fill up.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

Different recharge points may have different costs, much like how different petrol stations will have varying prices for traditional fuel, and charging at home is cheaper than public charging.

For the average EV with a 60kWh battery and a range of 200 miles, you’ll find that charging at home will cost approximately £15 for a full charge, and charging at charge points at petrol stations typically cost around the £20-25 mark for a full charge.

Often places like supermarkets and other public locations such as car parks offer charging that is free to use. If you are looking to save money on trips, locating these free charging points can help.

Electric car charging installation cost

If you have off street parking then installing a charging point at home is essential if you are making the switch to EV, and for businesses wanting to invest in sustainable infrastructure then charging points are a great idea.

Many companies will combine the cost of a charging and the cost of installing it, so this is important to know when picking your provider. For both home charging points and business charging points there are government grants available in the UK to help cover a chunk of the costs.

For businesses wanting to make EV charging more accessible on work premises or looking to grow their EV fleets, read more about the Workplace Charging Scheme here.

The cost of an electric car battery

Unfortunately, electric car batteries are very costly with the cheaper ones priced at around £1500 and the most expensive ones priced at around £10,500. The cost of a replacement EV battery will of course depend on the make and model of vehicle. This cost also doesn’t include installation costs.

These batteries are so expensive because of high demand but only a small amount of availability. 6 companies produced 85% of the lithium-ion batteries used in electric cars in the latter half of 2020.

Cost of running a petrol car versus an electric car in the UK

Let’s look at the Citroen C4 as an example.

The diesel version has an on-the-road price of £26,040.

This vehicle’s electric counterpart, the e-C4, has an on the road price of £29,680.

This initial extra cost of over £3,000 per vehicle is what makes fleet managers shake their heads. After all, when purchasing multiple of these electric vehicles, the extra cost of constructing your fleet could seriously add up.

The total cost ownership of electric vehicle fleets

However, once you’ve got your electric vehicles on the road, you’re going to start saving. Let’s look at the Citroen C4 example again.

Assuming the cost of diesel is 126.5p per litre (an average UK Price in March 2021), it would cost £2.85 each day for a 25 mile journey. Over a year, this journey would cost £1,040.

The cost of doing the same daily journey in the electric C4 is proof that cost of running electric vehicles is not something fleet managers should be worried about. The daily cost of the 25 mile journey would be £1.10. Over the year, that journey would cost £402.

That’s a saving of £638 per year, just by using electric instead of diesel.

Since electric vehicles do not emit harmful CO2, they are exempt from road tax. This small saving will also add up over time.

The more mileage your electric vehicles do, the more extreme the savings can be. Having 3 Citroen e-C4s in your fleet doing 50 miles a day for 3 years will completely negate the extra cost of the initial purchase of these vehicles, just from savings on fuel costs.

Of course, the costs will vary depending on which vehicles you use, but the e-C4 is a perfect example of the types of savings you could be benefitting from.

Government grants making EV purchasing easier

The UK government also offers a grant to assist in the purchase of low emissions vehicles.

This is part of the government’s 10-point plan for a “green industrial revolution”, which includes the 2030 ban on the production and sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles.

The percentage of the grant offered depends on the vehicle. For cars, the grant will pay for 35% of the overall price up to a maximum of £2,500. The car must cost less than £35,000 for it to be eligible.

For large vans, the grant will pay for 35% of the overall price up to a maximum of £6,000.

It’s unlikely the government will offer these grants forever, so it might be worth considering making the transition to EVs now whilst they are still available.

How else can I save money with electric vehicles?

If you are running fleets of electric vehicles, you should be using a fuel card to optimise the benefits. With the right card, you could see cheaper charging costs and more convenience in terms of where you can charge your vehicles. Many fuel cards offer competitive prices on both electric and fuel, meaning you can slowly make the transition to keep up with the industry-wide switch to low emission vehicles.

To find out more about how a fuel card can help you, get in touch with our expert team. They’ll find the best option for your fleet.

Grey charger plugged in to a white electric van

What new electric vans are going on sale in the near future?

Posted on 7th May 2021 | by Simon Pavey

We’re seeing more and more electric vans go on sale as we draw closer to the 2030 ban on diesel and petrol van production.

Petrol and diesel vans being used in cities with low emissions zones such as London and Glasgow risk having to pay high charges for operating in these areas. Businesses should consider whether it’s time to make the change to electric vans before these charges start to add up.

What does the electric van market look like in 2021?

Last year saw many businesses join the Global Action Plan Clean Van Commitment. Companies like Tesco and Network Rail are pledging to transition to zero-emission fleets of vans by 2028 as a result of this commitment.

The bulk of the market last year was taken up by the large fleet sector. Pressure from business heads to reduce emissions has already led to some companies to begin making the transition.

When browsing the market, you’ll find fully electric vans on sale as well as hybrids. The Ford Transit Custom PHEV is attractive to fleet owners as its hybrid capabilities mean it still carries a high payload with less harmful emissions. The Mercedes eSprinter offers an electric alternative to one of the most popular large vans on the market.

With demand increasing for electric vans, we can expect to see newer models each year. As payload weight, charge times and possible range improves, we’ll likely see sales of electric vans increase dramatically in the next decade.

What electric vans are going on sale soon?

Peugeot e-Boxer

The electric version of the Peugeot Boxer is set be available soon, citing a release date of 2021.

Two batteries are available with this vehicle. The larger 70kWh battery provides drivers with an impressive range of 211 miles.

To keep cost and weight down, the smaller battery gives drivers 37kWh of power and a range of 124 miles.

When these electric vans go on sale, they will be available as a panel van, window van or chassis cab. Peugeot claim that the panel vans will support payloads of up to 1,200kg. The maximum weights for the over variants have not been released yet.

Toyota Proace City Electric

This small van is set to go on sale in the UK towards the end of 2021.

We don’t have many statistics for this vehicle yet. However, we know it uses a 50kWh battery, so estimates suggest the Proace City Electric will have a range of around 200 miles considering its size.

A slightly larger version of this vehicle has also been announced, but few details are known so far.

More details about this van should become available closer to its release.

Citroen e-Berlingo Electric MPV

The electric version of the Berlingo MPV is set to release between October and December of 2021.

With a water cooled lithium ion battery supplying 50kWh of power, Citroen claim the van will have a range of 170 miles. They also state that with 100Kw rapid charging, the e-Berlingo could be recharged to 80% in half an hour.

This “van based people carrier” will seat 7 people, making this a great option for taxi firms and other transport companies.

Ford E Transit

This first completely electric version of the iconic Ford Transit is one of the many vans going on sale in 2022.

With 25 different variants, the performance of this van is bound to vary depending on size and weight. The 67kHw battery is predicted to enable a range of up to 217, which is impressive for a van of this size. The eco drive mode also promises to extend the range by an additional 8%.

Ford have promised that the carrying capabilities of this Transit have not been compromised during the change to electric. The payload rating of the standard model is just over 1600kg.

Renault Kangoo E-Tech

Renault’s successor to the Kangoo Z.E should arrive on our roads within the next year.

This version of the Kangoo features a battery capacity of 44kWh, a 33% increase on its predecessor. With a range of 165 miles and a payload of around 700kg, this smaller van is a great option for businesses operating in built up urban areas.

Arrival

Arrival’s electric van is the most futuristic looking vehicle on this list. It remains to be seen whether this aesthetic catches on and transforms the look of the vehicles on our roads.

The manufacturer states that they have set a new standard for commercial electric vehicles. With a payload of 1975kg, this van is set to start full production towards the end of 2022.

Arrival have also stated that the components in this van are upgradeable, meaning the life of each vehicle could be extended whilst keeping up with the competition. In fact, users of this van can configure the battery to fit their requirements. The battery capacity ranges from 44kWh to 133kWh.

This van is aimed at commercial vehicle fleets. Arrival believe they will be transitioning sooner than other sectors, but have sizeable range requirements.

When will you make the change to electric?

With so many great electric vans going on sale (or already on sale), it’s time for businesses to consider when they will be making the transition.

Moving from fossil fuel burning vehicles to electric can seem daunting though. These new vehicles will change the way fleet managers run their operations. If you would like to know more about how others are managing to add electric vehicles to their fleets, get in touch with our expert team.

An illustration of an electric vehicle at a charging point

How fleets could get more miles from electric vehicles

Posted on 5th May 2021 | by Simon Pavey

With concern about the environment on the rise and strict emissions targets in place to curb climate change, it is hoped electric vehicles could make a big contribution to lowering the country’s carbon footprint.

However, electric vehicle range remains a worry for some. Indeed, according to a recent survey by the AA, two of the biggest factors in putting people off making an EV purchase are lack of local charging points and being caught short on longer journeys.

Yet much of this so-called ‘range anxiety’ is likely to prove unfounded. Most fleet owners should actually find the latest EVs will have all they need to meet the needs of the majority of their drivers on a day-to-day basis.

So, how can you make the switch to greener vehicles and get more miles from your fleet? Here are a few ideas.

Choose cars with the best range

It might sound obvious, but the best way to start is by looking at which electric vehicle batteries offer the longest range straight from the forecourt.

Thanks to continuing improvement in battery technology, plenty can now go some 300 miles or more on a single charge. That means your drivers should be able to cross the country before needing to plug their vehicles back in again – and shorter trips will be a doddle.

The most well-known brand in the EV market is undoubtedly Tesla, which was pioneering in the field and usually has several models in most ‘top ten’ lists at any one time. However, every marque from Mercedes to Nissan and BMW to Jaguar now also offers its own new green vehicles.

With a range of price points available, that means there is sure to be something to suit the needs of your fleet and offer you maximum ‘juice per journey’.

To provide just a couple of examples, according to the Sunday Times’s round-up of the newest EVs, the Tesla Model S Plaid will get you a 390-mile range, while the BMW iX xDrive50 boasts 373.

You can also check out the RAC’s latest recommendations here.

Drive to optimise mileage

Once you have your electric cars, you will find that the way they are driven has the ability to increase or decrease mileage. To make the most of each charge, offer your fleet drivers these simple tips:

Drive smoothly to reduce consumption from acceleration
Reduce speed, as the US Department of Energy suggests a 10 mph decrease can lower energy use by 14 per cent
Make the most of regenerative braking by leaving the function switched on and using it to slow down before you use the brake pedal
Keep heating and air conditioning use to a minimum if possible
Don’t carry too much weighty cargo
Optimise routes before journeys to cover less ground

Another notable way to get greater range from electric vehicles is to stay on top of maintenance. By keeping tyres inflated to recommended levels, checking fluids and replacing air filters, a battery’s range can be extended quite significantly.

Using vehicle telematics might also be ideal in this regard, as it will ensure servicing is scheduled regularly. It can also collect data from fleets about driving and charging patterns, helping owners see where economies can be made and training improved.

Research the best ways to charge

Public

The infrastructure of public UK charging points is improving all the time, something that is essential given the ban of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 onwards.

According to the Department for Transport, the number of public chargers for EVs has increased by nearly 500 per cent in the past five years alone. That means wherever you go, you should no longer run the risk of being caught short mid-journey.

Indeed, with more than 18,000 charging points across the UK, it means there are now twice as many as there are petrol stations. Many are also rapid chargers to provide full power in a far shorter time, something that could be a huge bonus to business drivers.

Motorists can find them easily by looking up their nearest power points via tools like Zap Map and Apple Maps if they find they’re in need of a power-up mid-journey.

Furthermore, the government has earmarked £500 million for its Project Rapid motorway charging network and £200 million for charging network expansion, so this public grid should be ample to support most business drivers going forward.

However, it is worth remembering that some public charging points offer power at a cost, whether that’s pay-as-you-go or via an electric charging card akin to a fuel card.

Home

Many business drivers have company cars that are taken home at the end of the working day, so overnight charging could be a viable option. KPMG suggests 70 to 80 per cent of fleet EVs are currently already charged at employees’ homes in this way.

It is worth remembering that off-road parking will be necessary in this case, though, as will a method of claiming back the expense.

Workplace

As EV uptake increases, more businesses might be considering having their own charging points installed within workplaces for maximum efficiency. Of course, this will incur an initial outlay, but it may prove more economical in the long run.

The government offers financial support as part of its Workplace Charging Scheme that could potentially offset the expense, while utilities providers may also provide discounts for the electricity on a subscription basis.

More guidance on electric car charging points for UK businesses is available via the Energy Saving Trust.

Mobile?

It was recently reported that the RAC is planning on introducing mobile charging services for EVs, while rentable power banks for long-distance EV drivers are another option being put forward to boost range. Although this technology may be some way off, it could be another way of decreasing any lingering range anxiety for fleets going forward.

There are many benefits of electric cars and, with some research and a little planning, more businesses could soon be making the most of them. Perhaps it’s finally time to put the myths about mileage to bed and adopt greener vehicles for your fleet now. Get in touch with our expert team and find out how you can make the change to electric vehicles.

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