Electric Vehicles

Businesses have crucial role in driving the shift to EVs

By modelling a high ambition scenario where the vast majority of new bus and light duty fleet vehicle sales are EVs by 2030, a new report from the Climate Group shows that a wider shift to electrification is possible and would have far-reaching impacts

A new report by international non-profit the Climate Group has found that most buses and light duty fleet vehicles can switch to EVs in leading markets by 2030. Doing so would deliver transformational benefits on top of significant carbon cuts, including for health, infrastructure and battery innovation. The analysis, which was carried out in partnership with global sustainability consultancy SYSTEMIQ, sets out to understand the impact of businesses and governments accelerating the electrification of their fleet vehicles. Calculations show that buses and light duty vehicle fleets make up a fifth (21 per cent) of vehicles on the road yet contribute to a quarter (26 per cent) of road transport emissions. At present, fleet vehicles are being left behind in the electrification race as the majority of EVs driven today are privately owned passenger vehicles, while just 11 per cent are part of fleets.

By modelling a high ambition scenario where the vast majority of new bus and light duty fleet vehicle sales are EVs by 2030, the report shows that faster electrification is possible and would have far-reaching impacts.

Helen Clarkson, CEO of Climate Group, said: “Businesses, governments and public sector organisations have about half a billion light duty vehicles in their fleets around the world.

By switching these vehicles to electric, these organisations can use their purchasing power to drive us to a better future. Not only can fleets electrify faster, but crucially it would help to bring about a wider shift to clean road transport by supercharging demand, boosting infrastructure and growing the used EV market, making them more readily available and affordable for consumers. As we head towards COP26, we need the right commitments, policy support and investment to make faster fleet electrification a reality.”

COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma

said: “Reaching net zero by the middle of the century requires a step change across all sectors. And switching to electric vehicles is a crucial part of the action we need to take to hit this goal and keep the target of limiting global temperature rise by 1.5°C alive. I am encouraged by research such as this which shows that change is within reach. We must all work together ahead of COP26, and beyond, if we are to secure a greener future.”

Cutting carbon emissions

Accelerating the electrification of fleets could cumulatively avoid over 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (3.1 GT CO2e) by 2030, when compared to the BloombergNEF Electric Vehicle Outlook 2020. This emissions saving is similar to the current annual contribution of India, the world’s third highest emitter. Accelerating the electrification of fleets could av id over 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030 On top of this, the positive knock-on effects of fleet electrification, such as a bigger used EV market, would contribute savings of a further 700 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, resulting in a total combined reduction close to the annual emissions of the European Union (3.8 GT CO2e). Boosting the used EV market The used car market for EVs would be around 40 per cent larger in 2030 and over 70 per cent larger in 2040, under this accelerated scenario. This would mean an extra 7.2 million secondhand EVs on the market in 2030, increasing choice and affordability for individuals and organisations without ready access to finance.

Improving public health

As EVs help to reduce transport-related air pollution, the accelerated scenario would avoid an estimated 120,000 premature deaths annually in 2030, with the greatest benefit occurring in densely populated urban areas in the Global South. This would also help to save on global healthcare costs caused by air pollution, which contributes to trillions of dollars of spending every year.

Increasing public chargers

Meeting charging demand under this accelerated scenario would on average require an extra 14,000 charging units to be installed every day through to 2030, over and above current projections. This means that faster fleet electrification would result in an additional four million public chargers being built – enough to meet the needs of 29 million EVs.

Stimulating battery innovation

As the accelerated scenario would mean greater EV demand, this would lead to battery costs being a further 14 per cent cheaper by 2030 than has been forecast, thanks to advances in the efficiency of production. This would also help to bring forward the tipping point where

As the accelerated scenario would mean greater EV demand, this would lead to battery costs being a further 14 per cent cheaper by 2030 than has been forecast, thanks to advances in production

EVs reach purchase price parity with equivalent internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by around one year, with this occurring as early as 2023 in some markets and vehicle categories.

Making the scenario a reality

To ensure the accelerated scenario is achievable, it has been stress-tested against potential constraining factors that could limit EV growth. These include the availability of raw materials for batteries, such as lithium carbonate, as well as installed battery manufacturing capacity.

The report also highlights that the right commitments, policy support and additional investment will be required to make faster fleet electrification a reality, providing clear recommendations for governments, investors and businesses. For example, businesses and governments that own and operate vehicles can commit to EVs today, sending a demand signal to help trigger investments in increased production capacity from automotive manufacturers and within the battery value chain.

Global initiatives such as EV100, led by the Climate Group, are helping to aggregate this demand. Through EV100, there are now over 100 corporates with some of the world’s largest fleets, including BT Group, LeasePlan and Siemens, committed to transition more than 5 million light duty vehicles to electric by 2030. L

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Event Preview The Electric Vehicle Rally of Scotland

Planned for the second week of the COP26 climate change conference, the EV Rally Of Scotland will demonstrate how electric vehicles can cope with some of the most testing terrain in Europe

With the world’s media focusing on Scotland in November for the COP26 climate change conference, a new event has been organised to show how Scotland is already steering towards a greener future.

Planned for the second week of the conference (8-12 November), the new EV Rally Of Scotland (EVROS) will demonstrate how electric vehicles (EVs) can cope with some of the most testing terrain in Europe.

The idea is to prove that EV use across Scotland, and the rest of the UK, is not just for the odd occasion but can be the norm for both work and family vehicle travel.

A five day challenge

Setting off from Glasgow, the host city for COP26, four teams of four or five EVs will set off on a five day, 1200+ mile e-Tour of Scotland, taking in many of the beautiful landmarks while, most importantly, showcasing the charging infrastructure and clean energy projects that exist in all parts of the country.

It is hoped the event will squash the notion that EVs are slow, can’t go far, are too expensive to buy and run and that the charging infrastructure isn’t in place.

E-mobility and the decarbonisation of transport is seen as a key element to helping the shift towards a cleaner future, and the rally is aimed at showing that when it comes to their use, Scotland and the rest of the UK are leading the way.

The event is expected to capture the imagination of the fleet sector and public alike, who will be able to follow each of the five days across social media platforms, which will feature pictures, video and live broadcasts.

Each of the participating vehicles will carry branding on the bonnets and doors and will be driven by key industry people and even the odd celebrity or well-known face.

Electric vehicles are here to stay

Rally organiser Colin Boyton of PSI Group’s GREENFLEET Events said the Rally was being staged to prove EVs are here to stay. “They are not going away and are more than capable of being your everyday family car and your everyday work vehicle,” he said. “What we want to do is say to people that living and working with an EV, certainly in Scotland but also in the rest of the UK, is more than possible and is only going to get easier.

“The charging infrastructure in Scotland is already very good and is only going to get better. We stage events all over the country and we always hold Scotland up as a shining light because we feel the way Transport Scotland has gone about it is the right way.”

Financial benefits of EVs

While the environmental message is key, the Rally aims to show there are also financial benefits to switching to EVs from petrol or diesel vehicles. During the five days of the Rally, which will go as far south as Gretna and as far north as John O’ Groats and also include the Isle of Skye, there will be direct comparisons between the EVs involved and their diesel and petrol equivalents.

“We will be able to show efficiency and running cost differences,” said Colin.

The series of daily checkpoints will highlight EV charging points, clean energy projects around Scotland and some of the country’s most iconic and stunning scenery and landmarks.

“Hopefully it will help to create an engaging narrative as we move around,” said Colin.

Between the group’s own social media accounts, those of the participating sponsors and media partners, The Herald, the organisers are expecting well in excess of 600,000 followers on Twitter, more than 500,000 on Instagram and around 400,000 on LinkedIn.

“It is a really good opportunity for those involved to put out some very positive messages and that is what we intend to do,” Colin said.

On an EV adventure

The Frontman will be “EV adventurer” Chris Ramsey, who drove the 10,000 mile Mongol Rally in an EV in 2017, and has announced he will attempt to be the first person to drive Pole to Pole in an EV.

Paul Clifton, who holds the world record for driving from John O’Groats to Land’s End in petrol and diesel cars and who aims to complete the same achievement in an EV, will be one of the drivers, joining former Scottish rally champion David Gillanders.

There will also be a Top Gear “Stig” type character in the shape of one of DriveTech’s top instructors who will set the pace and show how different driving styles can affect the performance of the car battery.

All vehicles will be fitted with a bit of kit that will show harsh acceleration, harsh braking and poor cornering and, for fun, there will be a driver performance league table.

Colin is expecting the event to catch the eye of the media who will be looking out for new angles while covering the conference. “This is bang on message as come 2030 you will not be able to buy a diesel or a petrol car in the UK,” he said. “This is all with one eye on 2030 and the road to zero.

“By showcasing Chargeplace Scotland to the masses, EVROS will prove that getting from A to B, across some of the most testing, and beautiful, terrain in Europe is not a barrier.”

As well as the Herald, sponsors of the event include Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, SWARCO, Polestar, Kia, Maxus, Vanarama, AA, DriveTech and Stellantis, comprising a vehicle each from Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Vauxhall and Fiat.

“With our Premier Partners, we have taken a multi-brand, multi-vehicle approach which means that we are able to demonstrate state of the art, innovative technology in both passenger cars and commercial vehicles, alike,” Colin said. L

FURTHER INFORMATION

www.evros.uk

SME Special

Advice and support for smaller businesses looking to transition to a sustainable fleet

Brought to you by

GreenFleet

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