Procurement Written by Rachel Hughes, fleet category lead, Crown Commercial Service
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Supporting the move to zero emission vehicles Enthusiasm to adopt electric vehicles is high, but unblocking the road to electrification can often seem difficult and daunting. Rachel Hughes from Crown Commercial Service explains what procurement support is available With the future and speed of recovery within the fleet industry still unclear, it’s fair to say the impact of coronavirus (COVID19), and the resulting lockdown, has been dramatic: global vehicle production has halted - reducing the capacity of service, maintenance and repair services. As the industry slowly starts to restart, one green shoot of recovery is electric vehicles. The uptake of which is anticipated to grow at a faster rate than previously predicted due to the positive effect lockdown has had on air pollution levels. The continuing introduction of Clean Air Zones across the UK, the fast-approaching Government Fleet Commitment deadline for Central Government fleets, BenefitIn-Kind incentives for Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) and the maintained focus on sustainability will continue to support the growth of ULEVs and the phasing out of internal combustion engines.
required and align them with the business need. They also must ensure that there is access to adequate charging infrastructure. CCS is here to support public sector fleets on their journey to electrification with a wide range of products and services to ease the transition to electric. Telematics The use of telematics can be critical in developing a business case and building confidence around the decision to go electric. Data-driven intelligence can help fleet managers understand the dynamics of their fleet and make informed decisions on the transition to electric, ensuring they can demonstrate suitability, return on investment and support the optimisation of an electric fleet once in place. The newly launched CCS framework for Vehicle Telematics & Hardware Solutions (RM6143) provides access to 19 suppliers across two lots offering a range of products and services to help effectively manage a fleet.
Public sector fleets are now reviewing and aligning their fleet policies and determining what their future fleet profiles will look like, to make sure they Charging Infrastructure can adapt to the radically different world Access to charging infrastructure is a the COVID-19 pandemic will result in. This presents the public sector fleet central consideration and a crucial factor in with a great opportunity to reduce their supporting the uptake of electric vehicles. As carbon footprint by optimising vehicle well as taking into account operational fleet usage and transitioning to ULEVs. needs, public sector organisations Although the electric vehicle revolution will also need to think is upon us, there are still many barriers about home-based that fleets need to overcome to and public charging Access make it a reality. Motivations are solutions to to char clear and enthusiasm is high, support the g i n g i n frastruc but unblocking the road to wider transition ture is a central electrification can often seem for workers c o a difficult and daunting task. and citizens. and a c nsideration rucial fa It is, therefore, in supp ctor Where to start? fundamental uptake orting the The first step for fleets is to to identify of elect understand what vehicles are and engage r
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